KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Air quality in some parts of Klang, near here has worsened. In Johan Setia, in the Klang district of Selangor, the air was at an unhealthy level as at 6pm today.
According to the Malaysian Air Pollution Index (APIMS) data, Air Pollution Index (API) reading at the time stood at 105.
The reading at 5 am was 104 and it peaked at 107 at 9 am.
In Kuala Lumpur, the API remained at a moderate level.
APIs between 0 and 50 are considered good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy) and 301 above (hazardous).
APIMS also reported 67 areas with air quality at moderate levels today including Kota Bahru (Kelantan), Sungai Petani (Kedah), Banting (Selangor), Nilai (Negeri Sembilan) and Jerantut (Pahang).
Earlier today, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed his regret over the ongoing fires in his country that is causing the current haze.
He said the haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia has been an embarrassment for him to face Malaysia and Singapore as the problem has affected them.
“I sometimes feel embarrassed. This week I’m going to Malaysia and Singapore. However, I am also aware that it (haze) has become news headlines, affecting our neighbours,” said Jokowi, as reported by Indonesian media.
He said this during a coordination meeting on forest fires involving the relevant stakeholders at the State Palace yesterday.
Jokowi, via his Instagram account, said today that he had directed all concerned to take the forest fires more seriously.
He said he did not want to see a repeat of the 2015 fires that damaged 2.6 million hectares of land and forests in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
For the latest API readings in Malaysia, the public can refer to the apims.doe.gov.my portal.
–NNN-BERNAMA
