KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21: A total of 21 air quality monitoring stations nationwide recorded “Unhealthy” Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 8.30am today, according to the Department of Environment (DoE), with Sarawak accounting for more than half of the country's worst-hit areas.

IPD Serian in Sarawak posted the nation’s highest reading at 168, closely followed by Kapit at 166 and Sri Aman at 160. A cluster of four stations, namely Nilai in Negeri Sembilan alongside Miri, Bintulu, and Kuching in Sarawak, all tied close behind at 158.

Sarawak heavily blanketed with 11 stations

Sarawak remained overwhelmingly the most affected state, accounting for 11 of the 21 unhealthy stations recorded this morning.

Beyond the three highest readings, elevated pollution levels were logged in Samarahan (157), Sibu (156), Samalaju (155), ILP Miri (146), and Limbang (104), reflecting the broad and persistent reach of the haze across both northern and central divisions.

Peninsular states and Sabah

In Peninsular Malaysia, several major urban and industrial corridors remained cloaked in smog.

In the Federal Territories, Putrajaya registered an API reading of 157, while Cheras in Kuala Lumpur posted 155.

Negeri Sembilan recorded elevated figures in Nilai (158) and Seremban (155), while Selangor saw two stations enter the unhealthy bracket, specifically peat fire hotspot Johan Setia at 153 and state capital Shah Alam at 152.

Further south, Melaka’s Bukit Rambai logged 152, while Tangkak in Johor registered 125.

In Sabah, two monitoring stations crossed into unhealthy territory: Politeknik Kota Kinabalu at 153 and the state capital Kota Kinabalu at 133.

The lowest reading among the 21 affected locations was recorded in Limbang at 104.

The DoE is continuing round-the-clock air quality surveillance across the country, advising the public, particularly vulnerable groups, to track real-time updates as wind directions and regional hotspot activity evolve throughout the day.