KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s air quality saw a marked improvement today, with no locations registering “very unhealthy” Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 9am.
However, the country’s most heavily-populated region – the Klang Valley – continues to be smothered by “unhealthy” haze, with Johan Setia in Klang registering the highest API reading of 149 this morning.
Sarawak is also still languishing in “unhealthy” air, with Kuching registering the worst API of 173.
Seven other locations in the state are experiencing similarly “unhealthy” air pollution.
The worst-hit city of Sri Aman – which breached the hazardous 400 API level on Friday – is enjoying a relatively good reading of 143 this morning.
The rest of Malaysia is enjoying a respite with “moderate” air readings recorded from Kelantan to Sabah, Perlis to Johor.
The breather Sri Aman is currently experiencing may not last, however, as a cloud seeding operation conducted yesterday failed to douse the forest and peat soil fires in Kampung STC and Jalan Kejatau.
“The fires are expected to flare-up again today, and efforts to put them out will be doubled with the use of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency’s Bombardier aircraft, as well as the Fire and Rescue Department’s helicopters which will conduct water bombing sorties on the affected areas,” Sarawak Fire and Rescue assistant operations director Tiong Ling Hii told the NST.
“We will also get assistance from the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Civil Defence Force to enhance our operations,” he added.
An API reading of between 0 and 50 indicates “good” air quality; 51 and 100 (moderate); 101 and 200 (unhealthy); 201 and 300 (very unhealthy) and 300 and above (hazardous).
Areas with “unhealthy” API at 9am.
Kuala Lumpur
Batu Muda (134)
Cheras (141)
Putrajaya (141)
Selangor
Petaling Jaya (131)
Shah Alam (111)
Banting (119)
Johan Setia (149)
Negri Sembilan
Nilai (140)
Seremban (120)
Johor
Segamat (118)
Sarawak
Samalaju (101)
Bintulu (103)
Mukah (105)
Sibu (123)
Sarikei (131)
Sri Aman (143)
Samarahan (149)
Kuching (173)