Schools in Pahang, Tanjung Malim also ordered to be closed Monday

The Education Department has ordered all schools in Pahang and Tanjung Malim, Perak to be closed on Monday as the Air Pollutants Index (API) readings there reached unhealthy level.

The department in a statement said the decision was made at 4pm today after monitoring the worsening haze situation in the country.

According to the Department of Environment's website, the API reading for Jerantut in Pahang had reached 119 at 4pm while for Tanjung Malim the reading was 150.

Earlier in the day, the department had ordered all schools in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan and Sri Aman, Kuching and Samarahan in Sarawak to close tomorrow.

As at 1pm, the API levels in Selangor are as follows: Shah Alam (255), Port Klang (230) and Petaling Jaya (207).

In Kuala Lumpur, the API in Batu Muda is at 241 whereas Cheras has a reading of 181. In Putrajaya, the API reading is 198.

In Negeri Sembilan, Seremban's API is at 145 and 125 in Port Dickson. In Sarawak, Sri Aman's API is at 189, Samarahan (146) and Kuching (136).

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 300 and above, hazardous.