The haze that enveloped the country recently has eased off except for 12 areas including Bukit Rambai in Malacca, which recorded a moderate Air Pollution Index (API) reading of 83 this afternoon.

The Department of Environment (DOE) in its website said Bukit Rambai recorded a reading of 77 at 6am this morning.

Eleven other areas that recorded moderate readings are Kota Tinggi (78), Larkin Lama (66), Muar (53), Pasir Gudang (70) in Johor; Bandaraya Melaka (63) in Malacca; Port Dickson (59), Seremban (63) in Negri Sembilan; Banting (67), Petaling Jaya (51) in Selangor; Batu Muda (51) in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (55).

Thirty-one of the 52 areas being monitored recorded good reading. They include Alor Setar (38) in Kedah; Kota Baru (34) in Kelantan; Taiping (28), Tanjung Malim (38) in Perak; Keningau (35) in Sabah; Sarikei (30) in Sarawak and Paka (34) in Terengganu.

The air pollution level is categorised as hazardous when the reading is 301 or more; very unhealthy at 201 to 300; unhealthy at 101 to 200; moderate at 51 to 100 and good at zero to 50.

- Bernama