API remains ‘unhealthy’ in haze-hit areas
The KL skyline as seen from Menara UOA Bangsar yesterday. - Picture by Choo Choy MayKUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — The situation in the haze-hit areas of Selangor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur improved a little today, but six areas still posted an “unhealthy” Air Pollutant Index (API) as at 7 am compared to eight yesterday.
The website of the Department of Environment, www.doe.gov.my, reported the API readings as 113 for Port Klang, 125 for Shah Alam and 113 for Kuala Selangor in Selangor and 106 for Cheras and 108 for Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur.
Thirty-nine other areas in the country had the “moderate” API reading while eight had the “good” reading, it said.
No area in the country had the “very unhealthy” or “hazardous” readings, the website said, adding that air quality was moderate in 70 per cent of the country, good in 18 per cent and unhealthy in 12 per cent.
The API denotes air quality as good (zero to 50), moderate (51 to 100), unhealthy (101 to 200), very unhealthy (201 to 300) and hazardous (above 301).
The deterioration in air quality in the Klang Valley is reportedly caused by the cross-border haze being blown in from Sumatra, Indonesia. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Services Department has forecast rain in several areas in Selangor and the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya this morning.
The department’s website reported that Malaysia was experiencing the effects of the Northeast Monson which brings with it hot and dry weather that is expected to prolong up to September. — Bernama
