Haze worsens in Malaysia: Nine areas breach 180 API, Seremban still the worst at 189

As of October 9, Malaysia's air quality has worsened, with nine monitoring stations exceeding the Air Pollutant Index (API) critical reading of 180.

Seremban experienced the highest levels, reaching an API of 189, leading to widespread school closures across Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya, while other regions were on alert.

The prevailing haze, largely attributed to dry conditions and fire hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan, affected schools' operations, prompting a shift to home-based learning in impacted areas.

The Department of Environment continues to monitor the situation closely.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Air quality across Malaysia deteriorated further this afternoon, with nine monitoring stations breaching the critical Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 180 as of 2pm, up from seven this morning, according to the Department of Environment (DOE).

Seremban remained the worst-affected location nationwide, climbing to 189 from 186 earlier in the day. Pasir Gudang in Johor recorded the steepest surge, jumping nine points from 179 to 188.

Bukit Rambai in Melaka followed closely at 187, while Segamat and Tangkak in Johor both recorded 184. Tasek Ipoh in Perak and peat fire hotspot Johan Setia in Selangor were tied at 183, with Nilai in Negeri Sembilan and Bandaraya Melaka both standing at 182.

Alor Gajah in Melaka and Larkin in Johor hovered right at the threshold, registering 180 each.

Nationwide, 37 out of 68 stations logged unhealthy air quality (API 101 to 200), 31 recorded moderate levels, and none registered in the good or very unhealthy categories.

The total number of unhealthy stations dipped by one compared to the morning after Balok Baru Kuantan, which previously held the lowest unhealthy reading at 107, exited the bracket.

Widespread school closures across five states and federal territories

The deteriorating air quality coincided with widespread school closures. Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek confirmed that all schools across Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya, alongside the Rompin district in Pahang, remained shut today, Bernama reported.

Schools in Perlis, Perak, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan operated as normal, with local education authorities instructed to monitor conditions closely. All shuttered schools were instructed to activate home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).

Under Ministry of Education protocols, educational institutions in districts where the API exceeds 180, based on official DOE records, must suspend physical classes immediately. In addition, schools in areas where readings remain above 150 for three consecutive days must close from Monday, October 12.

At 2.13pm, 35 of the country's 37 unhealthy stations were already above the 150 benchmark. It remains under review whether the 183 reading logged in Tasek Ipoh will prompt school closures in Perak.

Regional readings across the peninsula

Across the Greater Klang Valley, elevated readings persisted in Shah Alam (176), Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur (172), Cheras and Putrajaya (170 each), Petaling Jaya and Banting (168 each), and Klang (167).

In Johor, Batu Pahat and Kota Tinggi were tied at 172, while Kluang and Pengerang stood at 175. Port Dickson in Negeri Sembilan also logged 175, while Rompin in Pahang stood at 164. In Perak, Pegoh Ipoh recorded 175 and Tanjung Malim registered 174.

Northern and eastern states logged comparatively lower yet still unhealthy figures: Indera Mahkota Kuantan (159), Seri Manjung (158), Sungai Petani (156), Minden and Kuala Selangor (155 each), Temerloh (154), Alor Setar (153), Seberang Jaya and Kemaman (151 each), Taiping (129), and Seberang Perai (122).

The DOE attributed the persistent haze to prolonged dry spells and ongoing fire hotspots across Sumatra and Kalimantan.

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截至 10 月 9 日，马来西亚的空气质量恶化，九个监测站的空气污染指数 (API) 超过了 180 的临界读数。

芙蓉的空气污染指数最高，达到 189，导致柔佛州、马六甲、森美兰州、雪兰莪州、吉隆坡和布城的学校大范围关闭，而其他地区则处于戒备状态。

苏门答腊和加里曼丹的干燥天气和火灾热点地区造成的普遍雾霾影响了学校的运作，导致受影响地区转向居家学习。

环境部门将继续密切关注事态发展。

吉隆坡，10 月 9 日讯——马来西亚环境部表示，今天下午马来西亚全国空气质量进一步恶化，截至下午 2 点，已有 9 个监测站的空气污染指数 (API) 读数超过 180 的临界值，而今天上午只有 7 个监测站超过该阈值。

芙蓉市仍是全国疫情最严重的地区，感染人数从早些时候的186人上升至189人。柔佛州巴西古当的感染人数增幅最大，从179人跃升9人至188人。

马六甲的武吉兰拜 (Bukit Rambai) 紧随其后，为 187 起，而柔佛州的昔加末 (Segamat) 和东甲 (Tangkak) 均录得 184 起。霹雳州的怡保打色 (Tasek Ipoh) 和雪兰莪的泥炭火热点 Johan Setia 并列为 183 起，森美兰州的汝来 (Nilai) 和马六甲城 (Bandaraya Melaka) 都为 182 起。

马六甲州的亚罗牙也和柔佛州的拉金都徘徊在门槛附近，各录得 180 例。

全国范围内，68 个监测站中有 37 个记录到空气质量不健康（API 101 至 200），31 个记录到中等水平，没有一个记录到良好或非常不健康类别。

与前一天早上相比，空气质量不健康的站点总数减少了一个，此前空气质量最低的站点 Balok Baru Kuantan 的读数为 107，已退出不健康空气质量排行榜。

五个州和联邦属地大范围停课。

空气质量恶化与学校大面积停课同时发生。据马新社报道，教育部长拿督斯里法德琳娜西德证实，柔佛州、马六甲、森美兰州、雪兰莪州、吉隆坡和布城以及彭亨州云冰区的所有学校今天仍然关闭。

玻璃市、霹雳、槟城、沙巴、砂拉越和纳闽的学校正常运作，当地教育部门被指示密切监测情况。所有关闭的学校都被要求启动居家教学（PdPR）。

根据教育部规定，以教育部官方记录为准，凡API值超过180的地区，其教育机构必须立即暂停线下授课。此外，凡API值连续三天超过150的地区，其学校必须从10月12日（星期一）起停课。

下午2点13分，全国37个空气质量不达标的监测站中，已有35个的空气质量指数超过了150的警戒线。目前仍在评估怡保打惺惺站测得的183的空气质量指数是否会导致霹雳州学校停课。

半岛各区域读数

在大巴生谷地区，莎阿南（176）、吉隆坡的峇都慕达（172）、蕉赖和布城（各 170）、八打灵再也和万津（各 168）以及巴生（167）的读数持续上升。

在柔佛州，峇株巴辖和哥打丁宜并列第 172 名，居銮和边加兰并列第 175 名。森美兰的波德申也为 175 名，而彭亨州的云冰为 164 名。霹雳州的佩戈怡保为 175 名，丹绒马林为 174 名。

北部和东部州属的数字相对较低，但仍然不健康：关丹关丹（159人）、斯里曼绒（158人）、双溪大年（156人）、明登和瓜拉雪兰莪（各155人）、淡马鲁（154人）、亚罗士打（153人）、诗布朗再也和甘马挽（各151人）、太平（129人）和威省（122）。

能源部将持续的雾霾归因于苏门答腊岛和加里曼丹岛持续的干旱和火灾热点。

警方称，一辆本田City跑车在柔佛动物园附近被警方追捕，最终演变成枪战；警方缴获毒品，一名男性嫌疑人头部中弹。

调查显示，扎拉·凯里娜担心如果母亲与高年级学生对质，她会遭到更严重的欺凌。

中国海军特遣队抵达哥打基纳巴卢，进行为期五天的友好访问。