Air quality getting better, schools open nationwide

PETALING JAYA: The haze situation throughout the country has improved, with only three areas recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 5pm, compared to 24 areas on Saturday.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said all schools nationwide will re-open tomorrow.
"This is following an improvement to the situation," he said in a Facebook posting.
According to the Department of Environment (DoE) website, among the areas that recorded unhealthy readings were Port Klang (115), Shah Alam (107) and Pasir Gudang (106).
A total of 47 areas recorded moderate API readings.
Meanwhile, two areas showed good readings of below 50, namely Miri (45) and Limbang (45).
An API reading of between zero and 50 indicates that the air quality is good; between 51 and 100, moderate; between 101 and 200, unhealthy; between 201 and 300, very
unhealthy and 301 and above, hazardous.
In a statement by DoE, the unhealthy air quality in the region is still caused by the transboundary haze from Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia.
"During the haze season, people are advised to take necessary precautions to avoid being outdoors, reduce outdoor activities, or wear a mask," the statement said.
Members of the public can refer to the DOE portal at http://apims.doe.gov.my/v2/ for the latest API readings.