KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — Eight areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as at 9 am today, comprising six in Sarawak and two in Peninsular Malaysia.

According to the Department of Environment’s (DOE) Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal, Sarikei in Sarawak recorded the highest reading at 161.

Other areas in Sarawak with unhealthy readings were Bintulu and Sri Aman, both at 157, followed by Samalaju (153), Sibu (151) and Miri (130).

In Peninsular Malaysia, Putrajaya recorded an API reading of 114, while another area also recorded an unhealthy reading of above 100.

Meanwhile, 51 areas recorded moderate API readings (51 to 100), and four areas recorded good air quality readings (below 50).

An API reading between zero and 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous.

API data is released hourly based on readings from 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide. — Bernama