ROMPIN in Pahang has the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading as the Meteorological Department warns that smoke from forest fires in Indonesia is set to blanket the peninsula.

At 9pm, Rompin registered an unhealthy reading of 105, according to the Department of Environment’s API portal.

Met Department director-general Jailan Simon earlier today said that forest fires had begun in six provinces in Indonesia and would affect Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan and Putrajaya in the peninsula, and Kuching, Serian and Samarahan in Sarawak.

Between 30 to 40 hotspots have been detected in Sumatra. 

Tonight, all other towns and cities in Malaysia recorded moderate API readings.

An API of 0-50 indicates good air quality; 51-100, moderate; 101-200 unhealthy; 201-300, very unhealthy; and above 300, hazardous. – August 1, 2019