According to data from the Department of Environment’s (DOE) Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), as of 7pm Langkawi recorded an API reading of 50, making it the only location among 68 monitoring stations nationwide to fall within the good air quality category.
However, Tangkak in Johor continued to record the country’s highest API reading at 183, although this represented a slight improvement from 184 at 5pm.
Johor remained among the worst-affected states, with several areas registering elevated pollution levels.
Pasir Gudang recorded an API reading of 182, followed by Larkin (179), Segamat (173), Batu Pahat (172), Kota Tinggi (171), Kluang (170) and Pengerang (170).
Batu Pahat, which recorded the country’s highest API reading of 190 earlier in the morning, saw an improvement of 18 points to 172 by 6pm.
Similarly, Seremban in Negeri Sembilan registered a decline to 168 from 183 in the morning, indicating some improvement in air quality.
In the Klang Valley, several locations continued to experience unhealthy air quality despite improvements in API readings.
Klang recorded a notable decline to 114 from 132 at 5pm, although the reading remained within the unhealthy category.
Other affected areas included Cheras (171), Putrajaya (160), Batu Muda (158), Shah Alam (157), Johan Setia (156) and Petaling Jaya (154).
Meanwhile, air quality conditions in Pahang showed mixed trends.
Balok Baru in Kuantan recorded an increase in its API reading to 157 from 155 at 5pm, while Indera Mahkota registered an improvement to 127.
In Sarawak, Kuching recorded an unhealthy API reading of 152, while Samarahan remained within the moderate category at 94.
Only One Location Records Good Air Quality
Overall, 28 of the country’s 68 air quality monitoring stations recorded unhealthy readings ranging from 101 to 200 as of 6pm.
Another 39 stations registered moderate air quality, with API readings between 51 and 100, while Langkawi was the sole location in the good category, with a reading of 50.
After Langkawi, the lowest readings were recorded in Tawau, Sabah, at 56, and Balik Pulau, Penang, at 57.
Under Malaysia’s API classification, readings between 0 and 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and above 300 hazardous.
The public, particularly children, elderly individuals and those with respiratory conditions, is advised to limit prolonged outdoor activities in areas experiencing unhealthy air quality.
