22 Areas Nationwide Record Unhealthy Air Quality as Transboundary Haze Persists

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — A total of 22 locations across Malaysia recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) levels as of 9:00 am today, driven by persistent dry weather and transboundary haze originating from regional hotspots.

Data from the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal revealed that IPD Serian in Sarawak registered the country’s highest API reading at 182. Sarawak was heavily affected, with seven other locations recording unhealthy air quality, including Samarahan at 168, Kuching at 166, Sri Aman at 163, Bintulu at 153, Sibu at 152, Sarikei at 116, and Samalaju at 105.

In Peninsular Malaysia, five monitoring stations in Johor reported unhealthy readings, led by Larkin at 162, Batu Pahat and Pasir Gudang at 155 each, Segamat at 154, and Tangkak at 153. Elevated readings were also recorded in Putrajaya and Nilai at 154 each, Shah Alam at 152, Cheras at 133, Seremban at 127, Bukit Rambai at 121, Bandaraya Melaka at 114, Johan Setia at 112, and Petaling Jaya at 102. Across the country, 40 areas maintained moderate air quality while five registered good readings.

Department of Environment (DOE) Deputy Director-General (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon stated that the situation stems from prolonged dry conditions in the southern ASEAN region. Citing a report from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), she noted that 865 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, 16 in Sumatra, and six in Sarawak, with dense smoke plumes carrying transboundary haze toward western Sarawak, southern Sabah, Singapore, and southern Peninsular Malaysia.

In response, the DOE has stepped up patrols and surveillance in high-risk zones, including peatlands, agricultural lands, and landfill sites vulnerable to open burning during dry spells. Under the National Haze Action Plan, outdoor activities are suspended when the API exceeds 100, while cloud seeding and the activation of the Disaster Management Committee by NADMA can occur if API readings remain above 150 for more than 24 hours. Schools, kindergartens, and childcare centres will be instructed to close if readings breach the 200 threshold.

The department issued a stern reminder to the public against open burning, highlighting that offenders under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024 face fines ranging from RM25,000 to RM1 million, up to five years’ imprisonment, or both. Members of the public are advised to track hourly API levels via the APIMS portal or the MyJAS EQMS application and report fire incidents to the authorities.

–NMT