KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Air quality deteriorated further across the country this morning, with 27 monitoring stations recording unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings as haze intensified across the central and southern regions of Peninsular Malaysia.
According to Department of Environment (DOE) surveillance data as of 8.54am, 27 out of the nation’s 68 stations registered readings in the unhealthy bracket (API 101 to 200), marking a noticeable increase from the 20 stations reported yesterday morning.
Another 40 stations logged moderate air quality, only one recorded good air quality, and none crossed into the very unhealthy or hazardous categories.
Pasir Gudang in Johor recorded the country's highest reading at 177, easing marginally from 181 yesterday morning. Nilai in Negeri Sembilan saw a sharp overnight spike, jumping from 151 to 174, while Klang and peat fire hotspot Johan Setia in Selangor were tied close behind at 173.
Selangor accounted for five unhealthy stations. Beyond Klang and Johan Setia, elevated readings were recorded in Banting (160), Shah Alam (159), and Petaling Jaya (154).
In Kuala Lumpur, Cheras logged 168 and Batu Muda stood at 164. The administrative centre of Putrajaya rebounded sharply into the unhealthy bracket at 165, up from 120 yesterday morning, breaching the 150-point benchmark used for localized school closure assessments.
Southern and eastern states record rising smoke levels
Johor saw the highest concentration of polluted areas nationwide, with seven stations in the unhealthy band. Following Pasir Gudang, elevated readings were registered in Kota Tinggi (166), Larkin (164), Pengerang (162), Batu Pahat (154), Kluang (152), and Tangkak (151).
In Negeri Sembilan, coastal Port Dickson re-entered the unhealthy register at 165 after dropping out yesterday, while state capital Seremban climbed to 160.
All three monitoring stations in Melaka worsened overnight: Bukit Rambai rose to 169, Bandaraya Melaka stood at 164, and Alor Gajah recorded 156.
On the East Coast, smoke pollution rebounded in Terengganu, with industrial hubs Kemaman and Paka logging 156 and 155 respectively after exiting the list yesterday. In Pahang, Indera Mahkota in Kuantan recorded 155 and Rompin registered 153.
In Sarawak, Serian logged an unhealthy reading of 153, while Sri Aman improved significantly, easing from 170 yesterday to 134 to mark the lowest reading among the 27 affected stations.
Widespread school closures remain in effect
The worsening air quality comes as schools in multiple states remained shut today.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek confirmed that all primary and secondary schools across Johor, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan would stay closed today.
Targeted shutdowns also remain in effect for schools under nine District Education Offices (PPD) nationwide: Hulu Langat and Sepang in Selangor; Kuantan, Pekan, and Rompin in Pahang; Tawau in Sabah; alongside Serian, Sri Aman, and Lubok Antu in Sarawak.
Health and education authorities have urged parents, high-risk groups, and students with respiratory ailments to wear protective face masks outdoors and track real-time hourly API updates via official DOE portals.