Kuala lumpur: Twenty-two areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 9 am today. According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal reported that the highest reading was recorded at IPD Serian (182) in Sarawak. Seven other areas in Sarawak also recorded unhealthy API readings, including Samarahan (168), Kuching (166), Sri Aman (163), Bintulu (153), Sibu (152), Sarikei (116), and Samalaju (105).
In Johor, five areas registered unhealthy API readings, with Larkin recording 162, while Batu Pahat and Pasir Gudang each recorded 155. Segamat recorded a reading of 154, and Tangkak recorded 153. Meanwhile, Putrajaya and Nilai in Negeri Sembilan each recorded a reading of 154. In Selangor, Shah Alam registered 152, while Cheras in Kuala Lumpur recorded 133 and Seremban in Negeri Sembilan recorded 127.
Additional areas with unhealthy API readings include Bukit Rambai, Melaka (121), Bandaraya Melaka (114), Johan Setia, Selangor (112), and Petaling Jaya, Selangor (102). Meanwhile, 40 areas recorded moderate readings, and five areas recorded good readings.
An API reading of zero to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy, and readings above 301 are hazardous. Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon stated that the situation was occurring amid persistent dry weather conditions in parts of the southern ASEAN region.
Based on a report by the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) yesterday, 865 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, 16 in Sumatra, and six in Malaysia, all within Sarawak. The ASMC also reported moderate to dense smoke plumes from clusters of hotspots in several areas in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, with moderate transboundary smoke plumes from Kalimantan moving towards western Sarawak and southern Sabah.
Haze from southern Sumatra and Kalimantan was observed moving towards Singapore and southern Peninsular Malaysia. The DOE is monitoring the risk of fires, particularly in peatland areas and landfill sites vulnerable to fires during hot and dry weather. Monitoring will be intensified if air pollution increases, and appropriate actions will be taken to minimize environmental and public health impacts.
Enforcement action has been strengthened through inspections and patrols in identified high-risk areas, including agricultural areas, peatlands, plantations, landfill sites, and locations with potential for open burning. The DOE also monitors API readings, hotspots, and developments in transboundary haze, taking into account meteorological information to assess the situation and coordinate haze management measures at district, state, and national levels.
Under the National Haze Action Plan (PTJK), the Disaster Management Committee can be activated by NADMA when the API reading exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours. The PTJK also stipulates the suspension of outdoor activities when the API reading exceeds 100, and the closure of schools, kindergartens, and childcare centres when the API reading exceeds 200. Cloud seeding operations may be carried out, subject to the presence of clouds and suitable weather conditions, when the API reading exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours.
The department urged the public not to carry out open burning, particularly during hot and dry weather and when air quality is at unhealthy to hazardous levels. Under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024, offences involving open burning are punishable by a minimum fine of RM25,000 up to RM1 million, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both. A compound of up to 50 per cent of the maximum fine may also be imposed for each offence.
The public is encouraged to report fires or incidents of open burning to the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department via the 999 emergency line or DOE's toll-free line at 1-800-88-2727. Hourly API readings can be accessed via DOE's Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) or the official MyJAS EQMS application.