KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 — Air quality of an unhealthy level was recorded in nine places in the country at 7am today, according to the Department of Environment (DoE).

The DoE website said the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at Nilai (Negeri Sembilan) was 100; Seri Manjung (Perak) 104; Banting (Selangor) 135; Kuala Selangor (Selangor) 153; Port Klang (Selangor) 155; Petaling Jaya (Selangor) 123; Shah Alam (Selangor) 123; Batu Muda (Kuala Lumpur) 101 and Putrajaya 108. 

An API reading of between zero and 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy, and over 301, hazardous.

The website said the API readings would rise in the late afternoon or evening due to the high ozone concentrations resulting from the influence of the warm weather at the moment. — Bernama