Tengku zafrul abdul aziz, Minister of Finance, Malaysia

Kuching (Malaysia), Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Singapore topped the list of major cities with the highest air pollution levels in the world according to Air Visual, a platform that measures the Air Quality Index (AQI) worldwide.However, the highest levels of air pollution were recorded in rural areas, reports Efe news.Simpang, in Indonesia's Sumatra island, surged to the "Hazardous" category of 372 on the AQI, with the density of PM2.5 particles at 322.6 micrograms per cubic meter.PM2.5 are harmful ultrafine particles that measure 2.5 micrograms or less in diameter. The World Health Organization recommends that levels should not exceed 25 micrograms per cubic meter.Sri Aman on the Malaysian part of the Borneo Island, stood at 367 on the AQI and recorded PM2.5 levels of 317.2 micrograms per cubic meter.AQI levels of 151 and above are considered unhealthy, especially for children, the elderly and the sick; it is advisable to stay indoors once they are reached.Most of the smoke affecting Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore billowed from forest fires and plantations on Indonesian territory, mainly in Sumatra and Borneo.More than 2,000 people have received medical treatment in Kalimantan, in Indonesian Borneo, for respiratory problems due to smoke inhalation. Indonesian authorities arrested more than 180 people on Monday and were investigating more than 30 companies - some in the palm oil industry - for their possible role in the fires.The blaze began at the beginning of the country's dry season in June, and more than 9,000 firefighters and volunteers have since worked to extinguish it.Indonesian media reported that two people had died - including a baby - from inhaling the toxic fumes rising from the fire that has ravaged Sumatra in recent weeks.In Malaysia, the Education Ministry has ordered the closure of 138 schools in Selangor state this week and another 56 in Port Dickson due to the poor air quality.Hanoi has been witnessing alarming levels of smog mainly due to pollution from nearby coal plants and road traffic.( With inputs from IANS )

Tengku Zafrul Abdul AzizFOLLOW

Tengku zafrul abdul aziz, Latest News

India on Friday termed as biased the statements by Turkey and Malaysia supporting Pakistan's stance on Kashmir at the UN General Assembly. ...

Is there a highly secretive N-connection to the burgeoning relations between Pakistan and Turkey, besides of religion, that is making Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan so sharp in his comments against India? ...

Nepal's House of Representatives Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Tuesday stepped down from his post after facing rape allegations. ...

American actor-singer Jennifer Lopez, who is happy to witness a positive response from her much-awaited film 'Hustlers' recently received a major setback after the film was banned in Malaysia. ...

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is going to invoke Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) against Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who is currently residing in Malaysia, official sources said on Thursday. ...

Expanding spying attempts against organisations in Vietnam and Malaysia, Chinese-speaking cyberespionage group APT10 is now inching towards Southeast Asia, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky said on Wednesday. ...

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday said that India is working to extradite controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. ...

Air pollution reached alarming levels on Tuesday across Southeast Asia, where smoke from wildfires in Indonesia affected thousands and led to the closure of dozens of schools, while Vietnams capital Hanoi was engulfed in smog. ...