Kuala: The Malaysian government released data showing that air quality in parts of the country, including the capital Kuala Lumpur, has dropped to unhealthy levels. According to Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index Management System, which is managed by the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, the worst hit areas include Penang state and Kuala Lumpur, both of which recorded air pollution index (API) readings of 151.
The country’s air quality rating system categorizes API readings as follows: a reading of zero to 50 is considered “good”; 51 to 100 is “moderate”; 101 to 200 is “unhealthy”; 201 to 300 is “very unhealthy”; and 301 and above is “hazardous.” The current readings in Malaysia are therefore classified as “unhealthy.”
The situation in Malaysia is part of a larger trend in the region, as several other countries have also recorded unhealthy air quality levels in recent days. The Specialized Meteorological Centre of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has reported a concentration of hotspots in the Indochina Peninsula, which may be contributing to the problem.
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