Eight regions in Malaysia are experiencing unhealthy air quality, partially due to worsening transboundary haze, according to the country's Environment Department.

As of Monday (July 21) morning, Malaysia's Air Pollutant Index (API) showed eight readings above 100.

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy, and above 300 is hazardous.

Alor Gajah in Melaka recorded the highest API of 160, while areas like Cheras in Kuala Lumpur and Banting in Selangor also registered API levels over 150.

Director-general of the Environment Department, Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, stated that the deteriorating air quality is influenced by smoke and haze moving into the west coast region of Malaysia over the past 24 hours, as reported by Bernama.

NEA Warns of Possible Transboundary Haze

The National Environment Agency (NEA) reported dry conditions in most parts of the southern Asean region overnight, with moderate transboundary smoke plumes observed coming from Sumatra towards Peninsular Malaysia.

NEA predicts that dry conditions will persist in most parts of the southern Asean region while showers are expected in other areas over the next few days.

NEA's latest haze update on July 21 at 11 am stated that hotspots and smoke haze activities could intensify in fire-prone areas facing prolonged dry conditions, increasing the likelihood of transboundary haze.

Transboundary haze occurrences in the southern Asean region are more frequent during the traditional dry season from June to early October, according to NEA.

Indonesia reported 1,208 fire hotspots across Sumatra, with 586 in Riau alone. To address this, Indonesia plans to conduct cloud seeding in Riau for at least seven days.

There have been instances of local forest and bush fires in Malaysia as well, attributed to hot weather and human activity, said Fire and Rescue director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad.

Natural combustion is unlikely in such weather conditions, indicating a high probability that human actions caused the fires, even though no specific forensic investigation has been conducted, as reported by Bernama.

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