Kuala lumpur: Eight areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 9 am today, comprising six in Sarawak and two in Peninsular Malaysia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sarikei in Sarawak registered the highest reading at 161.

Other areas in Sarawak with unhealthy readings were Bintulu and Sri Aman, both at 157, followed by Samalaju at 153, Sibu at 151, and Miri at 130. In Peninsular Malaysia, Putrajaya recorded an API reading of 114, while another area also reported an unhealthy reading of above 100.

Meanwhile, 51 areas recorded moderate API readings, ranging from 51 to 100, and four areas recorded good air quality readings below 50. An API reading between zero and 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy; and 300 and above, hazardous. API data is released hourly based on readings from 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide.