KUCHING: Lubok Antu recorded a very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 202 at 4 pm yesterday, as haze conditions worsened in parts of Sarawak.
According to the latest data from the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), Serian recorded an unhealthy reading of 173, followed by Samarahan at 168 and Kuching at 166.
Other areas with unhealthy readings were Betong at 160, Sri Aman and Kanowit at 157 each, Bintulu at 155, Sibu and Miri at 153 each, Tebedu at 152, Samalaju at 131, Lundu at 117, Limbang at 116 and ILP Miri at 106.
Sarikei, however, improved to a moderate reading of 98 from 116 earlier today.
Nationally, 22 areas recorded unhealthy API readings as of 9 am today.
In Johor, Larkin recorded 162, Batu Pahat and Pasir Gudang 155 each, followed by Segamat at 154 and Tangkak at 153.
Putrajaya and Nilai in Negeri Sembilan each recorded 154, while Shah Alam recorded 152, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur 133 and Seremban 127.
Unhealthy readings were also recorded at Bukit Rambai and Bandaraya Melaka at 121 and 114 respectively, as well as Johan Setia and Petaling Jaya in Selangor at 112 and 102.
The Department of Environment (DOE) said the situation occurred amid persistent dry weather conditions in parts of the southern ASEAN region.
Based on an ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre report on Saturday, 865 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, 16 in Sumatra and six in Malaysia, all in Sarawak.
The DOE said it continued to monitor API readings, hotspots and fire risks, particularly in peatland areas and landfill sites, while enforcement had been strengthened in high risk areas.
It also urged the public not to carry out open burning during hot and dry weather.
Under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024, offences involving open burning are punishable by a fine of between RM25,000 and RM1 million, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
