PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia's Langkawi island bore the brunt of the haze blanketing many parts of the country on Tuesday (Oct 6), as most schools in peninsular Malaysia remained closed for a second day.

With a reading of 162, indicating air quality in the unhealthy range, Langkawi recorded the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) in the country as at 3pm on Tuesday. It was one of 17 areas that had unhealthy air quality readings, according to the Department of Energy's website.

Other areas with API readings in the unhealthy range included Port Klang in Selangor and Pasir Gudang in Johor, with both areas recording API readings of 125.

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and above 300, hazardous.

There were 22 areas with moderate air quality and 12 with air quality in the good range.

Malaysia's Education Ministry has closed nearly 7,000 schools across Peninsular Malaysia, except in Kelantan, for two days from Monday.

The ministry had ordered the closures after haze pollution climbed to unhealthy levels in several key areas on Sunday, with the haze in Shah Alam hitting the hazardous level.