Ten Areas Across Four States Record Unhealthy API Levels as Haze Worsens in Sarawak

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — Ten areas across four states recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 10:00 am today, with Serian in Sarawak recording the highest reading in the country, nearing the very unhealthy threshold.

Data from the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal showed that Sarawak was the most severely affected state, with five locations registering unhealthy air quality levels. The Serian district police headquarters (IPD) recorded an API reading of 194.

The affected areas in Sarawak were:

• Serian (IPD): 194
• Kuching: 176
• Samarahan: 172
• Sri Aman: 158
• Bintulu: 125

The remaining five locations reporting unhealthy air quality were spread across Selangor, Kedah, and Penang:

• Selangor: Johan Setia (160) and Kuala Selangor (101)
• Kedah: Sungai Petani (155) and Alor Setar (152)
• Penang: Minden (130)

Meanwhile, 58 other monitoring areas nationwide recorded moderate air quality readings.

Under national air quality standards, an API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and any reading above 300 is classified as hazardous.

API data is updated on an hourly basis, sourced from 68 air quality monitoring stations operating across the country.

–NMT