A total of 43 areas recorded moderate Air Pollutant Index (API) readings at 5pm compared to only 36 areas at 11am today, the Department of Environment (DOE) said in a statement.

Bukit Rambai recorded the highest with 83 followed by Nilai 80 while Muar, Tanah Merah, Malacca city, Port Dickson, Balok Baru, Batu Muda, Port Klang, Banting, Kuala Selangor and Shah Alam recorded 70-79.

Penang which was hit by haze last week caused by open burning in Sumatra recorded moderate readings of 61 for Seberang Jaya 2 and 55 for Perai while Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) recorded good quality of 42.

In Putrajaya, the good air quality which read 42 this morning turned a moderate 55 this afternoon.

In addition to USM, eight areas with good air quality were Sri Aman (24), ILP Miri (29), Langkawi (37), Sandakan (38), Tawau (41), Jalan Tasek, Ipoh (43), Miri (46) and Kota Kinabalu (49).

No areas recorded unhealthy, very unhealthy or dangerous API readings.

API readings of 0-50 are classified as good, 51-100 moderate, 101-200 unhealthy, 201-300 very unhealthy and over 300 dangerous.

- Bernama