Unhealthy Air Quality Hits 20 Areas Nationwide as Kuching and Serian Record Highest Readings

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 — Air quality across Malaysia deteriorated further this morning, with 20 areas nationwide recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) levels as of 9 am.

Data from the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal showed that Kuching and IPD Serian in Sarawak registered the country’s highest API readings at 169. Six other locations across Sarawak also logged unhealthy air quality, including Samarahan at 163, Sri Aman at 162, Sibu at 159, Sarikei at 152, Bintulu at 135, and Kapit at 118.

In Peninsular Malaysia, Selangor saw three affected locations, led by Shah Alam with an API of 157, followed by Petaling Jaya at 139 and Johan Setia at 113. In Perak, Seri Manjung and Tanjung Malim logged readings of 164 and 113 respectively.

The Federal Territories also recorded elevated pollution levels, with Batu Muda and Cheras in Kuala Lumpur both registering readings of 155, while Putrajaya recorded 154. Elsewhere, unhealthy air quality was recorded in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan (151); Larkin, Johor (139); Bukit Rambai, Melaka (111); and Tawau, Sabah (108).

Meanwhile, 37 monitoring stations nationwide logged moderate API readings, while 10 areas registered good air quality levels.

Under national environmental guidelines, an API reading of 0 to 50 is classified as good, 51 to 100 as moderate, 101 to 200 as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy, and 301 and above as hazardous.

–NMT