API reading approaching 'hazardous'

PETALING JAYA: Schools are closed, flights cancelled and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak called for all to reduce outdoor activities, as the haze reached its highest air pollutant index (API) reading for 2015, today.
Air quality in several areas in the country continued to deteriorate, with the API reading in Shah Alam recording as high as 279 in the morning, close to the "hazardous" level.
At least three other areas in the Klang Valley also recorded very unhealthy API readings today, namely Port Klang (255), Batu Muda (250), and Petaling Jaya (226), at their peak in the morning.
An API reading of below 50 is categorised as good, 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy), and 301 and above (hazardous).
As air quality continued to plummet in several areas, the Education Ministry had no choice but to order the closure of all schools in several parts of the country.
In a statement today, the ministry said schools are to be closed in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Pahang, Negri Sembilan and Tanjung Malim, (Perak) in the peninsula, as well as Sri Aman, Kuching and Samarahan in Sarawak.
The situation in various parts of Sarawak has forced all flights between Kuching and Pontianak in Kalimantan to be cancelled until further notice.
Four flights scheduled to depart and arrive at the Kuching International Airport (KIA) were delayed due to the haze in the morning as visibility was reduced to just 800m.
KIA general manager Mohd Nadzim Hashim said the delayed flights, which affected 333 passengers, were Kuching-Kuala Lumpur, Kuching-Sibu, Kuala Lumpur-Kuching and Sibu-Kuching, but no passengers were stranded as early notice had been given.
Mohd Nadzim said flight MH2542 from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching, with 65 passengers on board, had to be diverted to Sibu due to the worsening haze.
Meanwhile, Najib took to Facebook to share his concern on the worsening haze situation, advising people to take precautionary measures.
"I was made to understand that the haze situation in a number of states in Malaysia is at an unhealthy level. Reduce outdoor activities, and if required, wear a face mask," he said.
The worsening haze also counted Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as among its victims.
Tweeting on his Twitter handle @HishammuddinH2O, the Umno vice-president said: "Jerebu masih teruk (Haze is still terrible) - I have already lost my voice and my nose is blocked."
Although the API reading in most areas showed improvement later in the evening, several areas still recorded unhealthy levels at press time.
They include Shah Alam (200), Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur (198), Port Klang (193), Petaling Jaya (183), Putrajaya (180) and Sri Aman, Sarawak (180).
The current haze situation has been going on for about three weeks now, the worst such episode since mid-2013, leading to Singapore launching legal action against Indonesian companies blamed for farm and plantation fires.
The haze in Singapore reached its highest level this year, after the PSI (Pollutant Standards Index) reading hit the hazardous level (above 300) on Friday, going as high as 341, forcing its government to close all schools in the island state.