Most areas in the Klang Valley have fallen under the 'unhealthy' category today as choking haze blanketed the country's capital, based on the latest Air Pollutant Index (API).

As of 11am today, API readings that exceeded 100 include Kuala Selangor (146), Shah Alam (127), Port Klang (117), Kajang (101) and Kuala Lumpur (101).

Other areas surrounding the capital and are about to hit the same mark are Putrajaya (100), Petaling Jaya (99) and Gombak (93).

The latest API readings were announced through the Department of Environment website .

In Negeri Sembilan, API for Nilai showed 103 while Bukit Rambai in Malacca showed 101. Southern Johor is also affected by a bad haze with Johor Baru hitting 106 and Muar at 101.

Sri Aman worst affected

Meanwhile, majority of areas in Sarawak continue to experience bad air quality with Sri Aman being the most polluted. Sri Aman's reading stood at 221, a sharp rise from 178 yesterday .

Readings between 201 and 300 are considered as 'very unhealthy'. Those above 300 are deemed hazardous to human health.

Other parts of Sarawak that remained on the 'unhealthy' scale are Samarahan (149), Sarikei (148), Petra Jaya (147) and Kuching (143).

Overall, 33 areas nationwide showed 'moderate' API readings, 14 are in the 'unhealthy' range and only three areas are 'good'.

Update: The API readings at 5pm today released by DoE show marginal changes to the situation.

Sri Aman remained at 'very unhealthy' range with its API reading at 210. While the number of 'unhealthy' areas has gone down from 14 to 12, the 'moderate' areas have increased from 33 to 36, and 'good' areas are now down to two from three.

Health authorities have advised those who are asthmatic or suffering from lung diseases to avoid going out.

A temporary situation

The Meteorological Services Department has said that the current haze was due to transitioning weather, from the current inter-monsoon season to northeast monsoon.

As a result, Malaysia is having intermittent haze due to inconsistent wind patterns moving from Sumatra to Malaysia.

However, the department has predicted that the current haze will only be 'temporary' and the situation is expected to improve after Sunday.

Air traffic in Sarawak was disrupted yesterday after unhealthy levels of haze resulted in visibility down to as little as 200 metres in some areas.

Cloud seeding conducted over parts of Sarawak from Tuesday has failed to induce the much-needed rain to clear the choking haze there.

A state of emergency was declared on Aug 10 last year after API readings in some areas exceeded 500, resulting in the closure of Port Klang.

Indonesia has outlawed land clearing by fire to grow crops but weak enforcement means the ban is largely ignored.