KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 14 -- 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 margin...