By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 24: Sarawak is breathing the freshest air in Malaysia, cementing its status as an environmental powerhouse, with three of its towns featuring in the top 10 for Southeast Asia’s (SEA) cleanest air in 2024, according to IQAir.
According to a Facebook post by Seasia Stats, leading the charge for Sarawak is Kapit, which secured second place region-wide, recording an annual average PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) level of 7.1 µg/m³, just behind Tra Vinh, Vietnam (5.2 µg/m³).
PM2.5 refers to fine airborne particles that are 2.5 micrometres or smaller—about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. These tiny particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, making them one of the most harmful forms of air pollution. Lower PM2.5 levels indicate cleaner, healthier air and reduced risks of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
This phenomenal achievement is a collective win for Sarawak, as two other towns, Limbang and Sri Aman, also made the cut for the cleanest air in SEA.
Limbang and Sri Aman proudly rounded out Sarawak’s representation in SEA’s top 10 list. Limbang secured the eighth spot with a PM2.5 concentration of 8.9 µg/m³, while Sri Aman followed closely in ninth place at 9.1 µg/m³.
This remarkable triple placement in the regional top 10 is more than just data; it’s a “Kapit-al” (capital) reminder of the treasure we hold in our hands.
So let us take a moment to inhale deeply and celebrate this collective environmental victory.
While we celebrate being the cleanest in Malaysia, let this be a positive motivation for us. After all, the best way to enjoy this clean air is to safeguard its future. —DayakDaily
