The environment department’s air pollutant index (API) showed an unhealthy level of 105 at Sri Aman at 1am.

It rose to 121 by 3am and 153 at 10am.

Sri Aman is currently the only location in the country with an API higher than 100.

An API of zero to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100 moderate; 101 to 200 unhealthy; 201 to 300 very unhealthy; and 300 and above hazardous.

Transboundary haze used to be a recurring issue in Malaysia, largely because of the slash and burn practice of Indonesian farmers as well as peat fires.

In September 2019, hundreds of schools across the country were forced to close as the haze caused the API to reach “very unhealthy” levels in certain areas. This was followed by a spike in cases of asthma and conjunctivitis.

However, since the pandemic struck, Malaysia has not been hit by the haze “season” yet.