PETALING JAYA – Schools, kindergartens and nurseries will be closed immediately if the
Air Pollution Index (API) readings exceed the 200 mark, which is “very unhealthy”.
The Environment Department (DoE) in a statement said schools, kindergartens and nurseries should begin making the relevant preparations if the trend in daily API readings are heading towards the 200 mark.
“They should be prepared to close,” said DoE director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaafar.
An API reading of 0-50 is considered good. 51-100 is moderate, 101-200 is unhealthy, 201-300 is very unhealthy, and above 300 is hazardous.
All out-of-classroom activities must be halted if the API reading breaches 100.
The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) will activate the Disaster Management Committee at the district, state, or central levels when the API reading exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours.
Abdul said cloud seeding will also be done if the weather is suitable.
API readings at nine locations in the country were unhealthy as of 8pm.
Nilai was the highest at 160, followed by Cheras (Kuala Lumpur) at 159; Seremban (Negri Sembilan) at 155; Banting (Selangor) at 154; Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam at 153; Kuala Selangor and Port Dickson at 151 and Johan Setia in Selangor at 133. – The Vibes, October 2, 2023
