THE air pollution index (API) readings for air quality has no direct correlation to the visibility range, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

She said the  Air Pollution Index of Malaysia is the official source of information on the country’s air quality and the data is verified before it is disseminated to the public.

“The public is advised to refer only to the API readings released by the DoE to avoid confusion,”  she said at the opening of the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing’s new building at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, today.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the National Disaster Management Agency chairman, said this in response to those who have raised doubts on the accuracy of the DoE’s API figures due to the low visibility in parts of the country yesterday.

She said the method of calculation for the API followed international standards adopted by many countries.

According to the status report on the smoke situation in the country, as of 3pm in the Klang Valley, 34 locations have unhealthy air quality and one location, Johan Setia, very unhealthy air quality with the API at 207.

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

Dr Wan Azizah said the smoke situation has improved in Sri Aman, which recently saw the API soar past the 300 hazardous mark, after cloud seeding resulted in rainfall and land fires were brought under control by firefighters aided by various agencies.

Peat fires are still burning on 4ha land in Sri Aman, however. The API reading at Sri Aman is 107. – Bernama, September 23, 2019.