Haze update 22/6: 11 areas affected in Malaysia, improvement seen in Singapore

There are increasing signs that more areas in the Klang Valley would be hit by the haze.

As of 11am, Department of Environment (DoE) data revealed that it has detected 11 areas that have poor air quality.

Muar remained the most affected area -- with an Air Pollutant Index (API) of 373.

The other areas with API readings of between 101 and 200 include Pasir Gudang (190), Larkin Lama (170), Kota Tinggi (187), Bandaraya Melaka (178), Bukit Rambai (182), Nilai (119), Port Dickson (113) and others.

Also worrying is that Banting and Port Klang are posting APIs of 113 and 139, respective.

An API reading of 51-100 is considered as moderate, 101-200 is unhealthy, 201-300 is very unhealthy, while 301 and above is deemed hazardous.

Although Petaling Jaya, Putrajaya, Shah Alam, Cheras (KL) and Batu Muda (KL) are still registering APIs of below 100, nevertheless, air quality in these areas are deteriorating -- as 11am readings are higher than the 7am readings.

Singapore's air quality - which saw PSI readings of more than 300 between 9am and 12 noon - appears to be improving, after data revealed that PSI (as of 4pm) has declined to 85, the lowest since Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) said that the Indonesian authorities are carrying out plans to combat the issue.

The plans include extinguishing forest fires on land, extinguishing fires by air, and reinforcement of regulations.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said he would be in Indonesia next Wednesday to discuss Malaysia's assistance to the republic to fight the fires.