While air quality in certain parts of Malaysia has improved, the situation has gotten worse in Sarawak with Sibu and Miri near ‘very unhealthy’ levels.

The Air Pollution Index readings taken at 11am by the Department of Environment show Sibu (197) and Miri (176) hovering closed to being declared ‘very unhealthy’.

Meanwhile, Muar , Johor (135) and Samarahan , Sarawak (122) are still in the ‘unhealthy’ category, while nearby Kuching (96) and Sri Aman (98) are badly hit too.

Air pollution in the Klang Valley however are at 'moderate' levels.

Air quality is deemed 'unhealthy' at readings of 101-200, 'very unhealthy' from 201-300 and 'hazardous' if above 300. A reading of 0-50 is deemed 'good' and from 51-100 as 'moderate'.

Only 18 out of 49 areas where API readings were taken nationwide have registered 'good' air quality. They were mostly in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia.

Forest fires raging in Sarawak, Kalimantan

Wildfires were raging in more than 1,000 hectares (around 2,500 acres) near the Sarawak-Brunei border, causing thick smoke.

Malaysia was hit with the worst haze levels recorded this year on Wednesday and Thursday, when the API recorded six "unhealthy" areas.

Farmers burn forests every year to clear land for agriculture, sending plumes of smoke across neighbouring countries.

The haze was at its worst in 1997-1998, costing the Southeast Asian region an estimated US$9 billion by disrupting air travel and other business activities.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai has expressed fears that the haze would worsen the A(H1N1) flu situation by causing more respiratory illnesses.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Douglas Uggah Embas had to abort his plan to carry out aerial hot spots surveillance on a helicopter on Friday in Sarawak due to the poor visibility.

azlan