Twenty-one stations record unhealthy air as Zahid expects wind shift to ease haze

AIR pollution reached unhealthy levels at 21 monitoring stations nationwide with Pasir Gudang recording the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 179 as Malaysia looks to a forecast change in wind direction to ease the prolonged haze.

Data from the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) showed Larkin recorded an API reading of 176, followed by Kota Tinggi at 167 and Sri Aman in Sarawak at 166 around midday.

Pengerang recorded 165, while Batu Pahat in Johor and Balok Baru in Kuantan, Pahang, each registered 161.

Other locations with unhealthy readings included Melaka City at 160, Bukit Rambai at 159, Rompin at 158, and Tawau and the Serian district police headquarters in Sarawak, both at 155.

Nilai, Seremban and Kluang each recorded 154, while Tangkak registered 152.

Putrajaya recorded 146, followed by Alor Gajah at 140, Segamat at 137, Kemaman at 104 and Johan Setia at 103.

Another 45 monitoring stations recorded moderate air quality, while two registered good readings.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said a change in wind direction towards the Indian Ocean was expected within the next two weeks and could help reduce the impact of transboundary haze over Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

He said the forecast had been conveyed by Malaysian Meteorological Department director-general.

“Besides ongoing humanitarian efforts, the change in wind direction could help ensure Malaysians do not continue to suffer from prolonged haze,” he said at a press conference.

Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, is in China for a five-day working visit to Beijing and Tianjin that began yesterday.

On Malaysia’s offer to assist Indonesia in tackling forest and land fires, he said Jakarta might not require additional help because it had deployed more than 19,000 personnel and substantial assets to fight the fires.

“Malaysia has offered some assistance, but Indonesia itself has deployed more than 19,000 personnel.

“I do not think they will need assistance from Malaysia because they have a large number of personnel and equipment to help tackle the fires. However, we understand that the hotspots in Kalimantan and Sumatra cannot be extinguished immediately,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had earlier contacted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to convey Malaysia’s readiness to help combat the fires.

Zahid, who chairs the Central Disaster Management Committee, said Malaysia had offered a firefighting aircraft, three helicopters and 52 officers and personnel to support the operation. - October 13, 2026