Environment minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad says Malaysia is still 'seriously' considering a law similar to Singapore that holds companies liable for air pollution.

The Department of Environment says air quality is deteriorating, particularly in the western part of the peninsula.

The Consumers Association of Penang says the problem has been ongoing for a long time.

The environment ministry says enforcement can be across all those who hold environmental permits adding that the most serious cases would still be pursued in the courts.

3M, which is facing thousands of lawsuits over PFAS contamination, did not admit liability, and says the money will help support remediation at public water systems that detect PFAS 'at any level.'

Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad says water quality has also improved while odour issues have been less frequent.

Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii says several measures are in place to address river pollution in the country.

IQAir.com, which tracks air quality around the world, says New York is enduring the worst air quality index of any major city in the world.

There have been 184,465 hospital admissions this week alone.

Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying says schools will be told to close in the event of an API reading of 200 and above.

Seberang Jaya had an air pollutant index reading of 151 as of 10am.

The concentration of fine particulates in the air in Beijing is currently 46.2 times the World Health Organization's annual air quality guideline value.