The Department of Environment continues to monitor the air quality nationwide although the condition has improved today.

However, the DOE is still activating the Open Burning Prevention Action Plan in all states and implementing the Standing Operating Procedure for the Prevention of Peat Soil Fires to control and check factors that impact air quality.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry in a statement today said that enforcement on smoke emissions from vehicles and industries would be intensified.

In a situation of unstable air quality amid the hot, dry weather, the public is advised by DoE not to carry out open burning.

The public is also urged to help put out small fires and report cases of open burning to the Fire and Rescue Department by calling 999 and DOE at toll-free 1-800-88-2727.

Meanwhile, the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as at 7am today posted on the DOE website showed the air quality in 23 areas categorised as good, 29 at moderate level and no areas with unhealthy air.

The Jalan Tasek area in Ipoh, Perak which reported unhealthy air yesterday, today recorded API reading of 74 (moderate).

Other areas with moderate air quality include Jerantut (API reading of 51), Sarikei, Labuan and Tanah Merah (53), Seremban (54), Putrajaya and Samarahan (56) and Bakar Arang, Sungai Petani (57).

Among the 23 areas with air quality recorded as good are Sri Aman (15),  (27), ILP Miri and Kapit (30), Alor Setar (32), Langkawi and Kota Kinabalu (34) and Sibu (36).

API readings are categorised as: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy) and harzardous (300 and above).

- Bernama