PETALING JAYA, Sept 4 — Several areas in Peninsular Malaysia breached the unhealthy levels of the Air Pollutant Index (API) yesterday.

Fourteen areas recorded API readings of more than 100, but at 5pm, only six still had unhealthy readings. 

Alor Star topped the list with a reading of 122 at 6am and 117 at 5pm.

An API reading of zero to 50 is good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy and 301 and above is considered hazardous.

The other locations that recorded unhealthy levels at 5pm were Kangar (110), SK Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh (105), Seri Manjung (103), Kampung Air Putih, Taiping (102) and Port Klang (101).

Shah Alam hit a high of 108 in the morning but improved at 5pm with a reading of 94.

Department of Environment director-general Datuk Halimah Hassan said four hotspots were recorded in Pahang, and one each in Johor, Kelantan and  Terengganu.

She also explained the API was recorded on a 24-hour average, based on pollutant particles in the air.

“The reason for the 24-hour measurement is because the pollutants take more than 24 hours before affecting one’s health,” she said.

Hourly API readings are an average reading taken within 24 hours.

Visibility improved with the lowest recorded in Alor Star at 1.3km.

Petaling Jaya, which on Wednesday had a visibility of 500m, recorded improved readings throughout yesterday with 8km at 5pm.

Meteorological Department senior meteorologist Dr Mohd Hisham Anip said the visibility was better today as the wind flow had shifted direction.

“However, the conditions may get worse from Sunday if burning continues,” he said.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry urged the public to refrain from open burning.

In a statement, it said the people should put out small fires and report open burning cases to the ministry or the nearest fire station.

Those  convicted for open burning may be fined not more than RM500,000, or jailed for not more than five years, or both.

A maximum compound of RM2,000 can also be imposed on each violation.

As of Monday, a total of 3,159 open burning cases had been detected throughout the country.

From that, 17 open burning case papers have been prepared to be taken to court, 41 cases given directive letters, 15 given notices, and 211 compounded.