Malaysians Breathe Easy As Air Quality Improves

KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 (Bernama) -- The air quality in the country has improved to moderate and good Friday morning after a hazy week due to the smoke mostly carried across from open burning in Indonesia. The air pollutant index in 30 areas in the country was at the good range and in 20 more at the moderate range as at 9 am, according to a report on the portal of the Department of Environment (DoE). It said that in Nilai, the worst-affected area on Thursday, the API had dropped from 113 overnight to a moderate 72 Friday morning. Areas which recorded the API in the good range this morning included Muar (47), Alor Setar (35), Kota Baharu (27), Seri Manjung (50), Kota Kinabalu (47), Kuching (50), Batu Muda (43) and Cheras (50). The areas with API in the moderate range included Putrajaya (52), Port Klang (54), Banting (62), Balok Baru in Kuantan (73), Bukit Rambai (72) and Kota Tinggi (93). The air pollution level is categorised as hazardous when the reading is 301 or more; very unhealthy at 201 to 300; unhealthy at 101 to 200; moderate at 51 to 100 and good at zero to 50. -- BERNAMA