AIR quality across Malaysia has deteriorated sharply, with 28 areas recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings and Sri Aman in Sarawak reaching the very unhealthy category as of 10am on Saturday.
Data from the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) showed Sri Aman recording the country’s worst air quality, with an API reading of 221.
Sarawak remained among the worst-affected areas, with eight locations recording unhealthy readings — Serian at 194, Sarikei at 190, Kuching at 169, Samarahan at 168, Mukah at 165, Sibu at 161, Kapit at 154 and Bintulu at 150.
Peninsular Malaysia was also affected, with Sungai Petani recording an API of 161, Langkawi 157 and Alor Setar 155 in Kedah.
In Penang, Minden recorded 160, while Seberang Perai and Seberang Jaya each registered 156.
In the Klang Valley, Cheras and Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur recorded 160 and 155 respectively, while Putrajaya registered 153.
Selangor recorded unhealthy readings in Shah Alam at 154, Johan Setia at 153 and Petaling Jaya at 133.
Other unhealthy readings included Kangar in Perlis at 155; Taiping at 155, Tanjung Malim at 154, Tasek Ipoh at 151 and Seri Manjung at 110 in Perak; Seremban at 136 and Nilai at 152 in Negri Sembilan; and Segamat in Johor at 142.
The remaining 38 monitoring stations nationwide recorded moderate air quality, while none registered a good reading.
Under Malaysia’s air quality classification, API readings of zero to 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy and readings above 300 hazardous.
The deterioration comes amid a surge in transboundary hotspots across the region.
Satellite monitoring by the Singapore-based Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) detected 1,738 hotspots in Kalimantan, 36 in Sumatra and six in Malaysia — five in Sarawak and one in Sabah.
In response, the Environment Department has activated the National Open Burning Action Plan and National Haze Action Plan, while stepping up daily patrols and monitoring in areas vulnerable to fires.
Authorities have also warned landowners to safeguard landfills, peatlands, forests, agricultural holdings and industrial premises against illegal open burning.
Under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024, individuals convicted of open burning face fines ranging from RM25,000 to RM1 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both. - August 29, 2026
