KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 7 -- Air quality across Malaysia deteriorated further late this afternoon, with 37 monitoring stations nationwide recording readings in the unhealthy bracket as of 4.30pm, according to Department of Environment (DoE) surveillance data.

The figure marks an increase from the 32 affected stations reported during the department's 9am morning update.

Johan Setia in Selangor recorded the nation's highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 190, holding steady from its morning level and remaining just ten points shy of the 201 threshold that triggers a "very unhealthy" categorisation.

Cheras in Kuala Lumpur followed closely behind with an API reading of 187, while Nilai in Negeri Sembilan registered 185, Putrajaya posted 1...