Air Quality in Sri Aman Reaches Very Unhealthy 221 API as Transboundary Haze Affects 28 Areas

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 29 — Air quality in Sri Aman, Sarawak, deteriorated to a very unhealthy level this morning, registering an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 221 as of 9:00 am, while 28 other areas across Malaysia recorded unhealthy readings.

Department of Environment (DOE) Deputy Director-General (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon stated today that another 39 areas nationwide recorded moderate air quality, attributing the nationwide decline to the movement of haze smoke from multiple directions.

In Sarawak, eight areas logged unhealthy API levels, including Serian (194), Sarikei (190), Kuching (169), Samarahan (168), Mukah (165), Sibu (161), Kapit (154), and Bintulu (150).

In Peninsular Malaysia, widespread air quality deterioration was recorded across several states:

• Kedah & Perlis: Sungai Petani recorded an API of 161, followed by Langkawi (157), Alor Setar (155), and Kangar (155).
• Penang: Minden reached 160, while Seberang Perai recorded 157 and Seberang Jaya logged 156.
• Klang Valley: Cheras registered 160, Batu Muda and Putrajaya both recorded 155, Shah Alam reached 154, Johan Setia stood at 153, and Petaling Jaya logged 133.
• Perak: Unhealthy levels were recorded in Taiping (155), Tanjung Malim (154), Tasek Ipoh (151), and Seri Manjung (110).
• Negeri Sembilan & Johor: Nilai recorded 152, Seremban registered 136, and Segamat reached 142.

Azuri Azizah explained that satellite data from NOAA-20 and reports from the Singapore-based ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) as of Aug 28 detected 1,738 hotspots in Kalimantan and 36 in Sumatra, alongside six hotspots within Malaysia—five in Sarawak and one in Sabah.

“The Regional Haze Map issued by the ASMC on Aug 28 indicates persistent dry weather conditions across most parts of the southern ASEAN region, except for parts of Peninsular Malaysia and northern Borneo, which received rainfall. Widespread clusters of hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and in the southern and central parts of Sumatra, while scattered hotspots were detected in other parts of the southern ASEAN region,” she said.

She added that moderate to dense transboundary smoke plumes originating from West Kalimantan are moving northward into western Sarawak, while additional smoke plumes were observed across other parts of Kalimantan as well as central and southern Sumatra.

–NMT