KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia Day dawned with the country continuing to be choked by the haze, as Putrajaya became the latest district to see its air quality enter the “very unhealthy” range.

Malaysia's federal administrative capital registered an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 203 at 9am on Monday (Sept 16).

The API, issued by Malaysia's Department of Environment, categorises a reading of between 0 and 50 as good; 51-100 (moderate); 101-200 (unhealthy); 201-300 (very unhealthy); and 300 (hazardous).

Kuching, which is hosting this year's Malaysia Day celebrations, has it little better. The Sarawak capital saw its air quality deteriorate again to reach an API of 248 on Monday monring.

Also in Sarawak, Samarahan and Sri Aman continue to be blanketed by haze as they registered “very unhealthy” readings of 223 and 217 respectively.

Sarawak also led the way with the most locations having “unhealthy” API readings.

In Peninsula Malaysia, the Klang Valley remains blanketed by haze, with nine areas registering “unhealthy” air.

Johan Setia in Klang, Selangor, registered the highest API reading of 208 at 9am.

Meanwhile, town of Malacca saw its air quality improve overnight, but its API remains in the “unhealthy” range of 138.

Tangkak in Johor, however, experienced no respite with an API of 153 at 9am.

The northern Peninsula states of Perlis, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan bucked the national trend and are experiencing moderate-to-good air quality. NEW STRAITS TIMES