Kuala lumpur: Nine areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 4 pm today, including three in Sarawak. Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon reported that air quality had deteriorated mainly in the west coast states of Peninsular Malaysia and several areas in Sarawak amid haze movement from various directions.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Samarahan recorded the highest API reading in Sarawak at 158, followed by Sri Aman (157) and IPD Serian (156). In Kuala Lumpur, the affected areas were Cheras (153) and Batu Muda (107), while in Selangor, Johan Setia recorded 151 and Shah Alam 103. Putrajaya recorded 114 and Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, 109.

The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite images on Tuesday, detected 266 hotspots in Kalimantan and 164 in Sumatra, while four hotspots were detected in Malaysia, one each in Kelantan and Terengganu, and two in Sabah.

Following the situation, Azuri Azizah mentioned that DOE had increased daily enforcement and patrols in areas at risk of open burning, besides monitoring API readings regularly. The National Open Burning Action Plan and National Haze Action Plan (PTJK) had also been activated to coordinate government agencies' efforts to address open burning and the haze situation.

Preparations by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to activate the Disaster Management Committee are in place if API readings exceed 150 for more than 24 hours. Measures include suspending outdoor classroom activities, closing schools, kindergartens and nurseries, and conducting Cloud Seeding Operations (OPA).

The public can monitor the latest API readings via the DOE's APIMS website or MyJAS EQMS application.