Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup addressed concerns in Parliament regarding differences between private air quality applications and government readings. He emphasized that the Department of Environment's Air Pollutant Index remains the sole official benchmark for haze management. This index is derived from continuous data collected by 68 automated stations across the country, which track six primary pollutants. The minister noted that these stations adhere to rigorous technical standards and methodologies endorsed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. To maintain data integrity, the government implements strict quality assurance protocols, including regular equipment calibration, performance monitoring, and consistent maintenance. These measures are designed to ensure that the official API provides a reliable and accurate reflection of national air quality levels, distinguishing it from the potentially varying methodologies used by third-party mobile applications.
Source : Malay Mail
Photo : Malay Mail
