Haze: Air quality improves, no unhealthy API readings - DoE

The air quality nationwide has improved with no areas recording an unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading.

According to the Department of Environment (DoE) website, as at 9am today, 23 areas recorded a moderate API reading of below 100.

Klang Valley recorded the highest API reading (98), followed by Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur (81) and Banting, Selangor (80).

Meanwhile, 21 other areas recorded an API reading between 51 and 79, and another 27 recorded good API reading of between 18 and 50.

Among those areas are Labuan (27), Prai, Penang (39) and Pasir Gudang, Johor (50).

The haze made a comeback in Klang Valley recently after hitting the nation hard last year.

But this time, it was caused by fires in Peninsula Malaysia and not the neighbouring Indonesia, according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

The El Nino phenomenon was also said to be making the haze worse.

An API reading of 0-50 indicates good air quality, 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy), and 300 and above (hazardous).

Members of the public can refer to the portal apims.doe.gov.my to obtain the current API readings.