Air quality in the country has improved following noon-time heavy rains and directional winds for two consecutive days. The number of areas that were declared as 'unhealthy' yesterday dropped significantly from 13 yesterday to two today.

According to the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, only Selangor's Kuala Selangor (106) and Negeri Sembilan's Nilai (102) fell under the 'unhealthy' category as of 5pm today.

API readings for both places stood at 165 and 173 respectively yesterday.

The API readings, taken at 11am and 5pm on daily basis, are announced through the Department of Environment's website.

API readings between 101-200 are considered 'unhealthy' while those between 0-50 are 'good' and those in the 51-100 range classified as 'moderate'.

Overall, API readings for 39 areas in the country registered as 'moderate' today while nine others showed 'good'.

Most of the areas in the Klang Valley also showed improvement with Shah Alam at 87, Kuala Lumpur at 84, Kajang and Port Klang both at 82, Putrajaya recording 81, Petaling Jaya a 79 and Gombak coming in at 77.

Those with API readings above 90 were Malacca's Bukit Rambai (98), Malacca town (94), Johor's Muar (95) and Seremban (92).

Growing frustration

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Services Department warned that the visibility of under five kilometres in the Malacca Straits and Sarawak coastal waters due to the haze was expected to persist until Thursday.

Bernama quoted the department as saying visibility condition were dangerous to vessels without navigation aid.

In growing public frustration over the menace, a delegation from opposition DAP earlier today submitted a memorandum to the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur protesting the recurring health hazard.

Malaysians and foreign tourists who are badly affected have expressed anger over the annual haze which is caused by the open burning to clear agricultural land each year in neighbouring Indonesia.