NEARLY all of the country is breathing in bad air as the air pollutant index shoots past the 200 mark overnight in many parts of Malaysia, Department of Environment figures show.

As of 7am, Balik Pulau, Seri Manjung, Putrajaya, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang, Nilai and Johan Setia are the areas with air quality in the very unhealthy range.

Twenty-three areas on the peninsula are not much better off with API readings of 107 to 187. 

The areas are Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Seberang Jaya, Seberang Perai, Minden, Taiping, Tasek Ipoh, Pegoh Ipoh, Batu Muda, Cheras, Kuala Selangor, Banting, Seremban, Port Dickson, Alor Gajah, Bukit Rambai, Bandaraya Melaka, Segamat, Batu Pahat, Kluang Larkin, Tangkak, Temerloh and Jerantut.

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

Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu on the peninsula are the rare green spots on the DoE chart registering moderate air quality levels .

In Sarawak, Sri Aman’s air quality has improved slightly from hazardous to very unhealthy.

Sri Aman’s API is now at 244, after earning the dubious honour of being the first to experience hazardous air quality at nearly 400 points.

Air quality in Sabah is moderate this morning.

More than 600 schools were closed yesterday and many remain so in many parts of the country, affecting 445,249 students.

A total of 636 government schools were closed, according to the Ministry of Education. – September 17, 2019.