KUALA LUMPUR — Air quality deteriorated further across the country this morning, with 27 monitoring stations recording unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings as haze intensified across the central and southern regions of Peninsular Malaysia.

According to Department of Environment (DOE) surveillance data as of 8.54am, 27 out of the nation’s 68 stations registered readings in the unhealthy bracket (API 101 to 200), marking a noticeable increase from the 20 stations reported yesterday morning.

Another 40 stations logged moderate air quality, only one recorded good air quality, and none crossed into the very unhealthy or hazardous categories.

Pasir Gudang in Johor recorded the country's highest reading at 177, easing marginally from 181 yesterday morning. Nilai in Negeri Sembilan saw a sharp overnight spike, jumping from 151 to 174, while Klang and peat fire hotspot Johan Setia in Selangor were tied close behind at 173.

Selangor accounted for five unhealthy stations. Beyond Klang and Johan Setia, elevated readings were recorded in Banting (160), Shah Alam (159), and Petaling Jaya (154).

In Kuala Lumpur, Cheras logged 168 and Batu Muda stood at 164. The administrative centre of Putrajaya rebounded sharply into the unhealthy bracket at 165, up from 120 yesterday morning, breaching the 150-point benchmark used for localized school closure assessments.