KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 9 -- Air quality remained at unhealthy levels across broad swathes of Malaysia this morning, prompting the closure of all schools in Selangor, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan as Seremban logged the nation's highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 186.

According to Department of Environment (DOE) surveillance data as of 8.30am, 38 out of 68 monitoring stations nationwide recorded unhealthy air quality (API 101 to 200).

None of the stations recorded good air quality, 30 registered moderate levels, and none breached the very unhealthy benchmark of 201.

Seven monitoring stations exceeded the critical 180 mark this morning. Following Seremban (186), the next highest readings were recorded in Bandaraya Melaka at 184, alon...