{
  "id": 3390469,
  "title": "17 areas record unhealthy air quality, Sri Aman highest at 167",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/17-areas-record-unhealthy-air-quality-sri-aman-highest-at-167",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T00:55:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/08/1518828/17-areas-record-unhealthy-air-quality-sri-aman-highest-167"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seventeen areas across Malaysia recorded unhealthy air quality due to ongoing haze issues, with Sri Aman in Sarawak registering the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 167 at 8am. The Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) tracked the API levels in various locations. Nilai and Samarahan in Negri Sembilan, Cheras and Putrajaya, and Shah Alam in Selangor all had API readings of 162, 162, and 158, respectively. Other areas with unhealthy readings included Serian and Seremban, with API readings of 166 and 158, respectively. In Selangor, Johan Setia, Johan Setia, and Tangkak had API readings of 158 and 153. In Johor, Tangkak recorded an API of 153. Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur had an API of 152, and Klang recorded an API of 151. Banting had an API of 144, Bukit Rambai in Melaka had an API of 143, and Alor Gajah in Melaka had an API of 128. Petaling Jaya in Selangor had an API of 123, and Taiping in Perak had an API of 108. API readings between 101 and 200 indicate unhealthy air quality. Meanwhile, 49 monitoring stations recorded API readings between 51 and 100, placing them in the moderate category. Among these, Segamat in Johor had the highest reading of 100, followed by Kuching in Sarawak at 99, Sarikei in Sarawak at 98, Batu Pahat in Johor at 96, Tanjung Malim in Perak at 94, and Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan at 91. Other locations included Bandaraya Melaka at 89, Seberang Perai and Tasek Ipoh at 87 each, Sungai Petani at 86, Minden in Penang at 84, and Kluang and Indera Mahkota Kuantan at 83 each. The lowest API reading of 52 was recorded in Sandakan, Sabah, followed by Keningau in Sabah at 53, Jerantut in Pahang at 54, Limbang in Sarawak at 56, Besut in Terengganu at 57, and Kapit in Sarawak at 57.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Seventeen areas recorded unhealthy air quality as haze continued to affect several parts of the country this morning.",
  "key_points": [
    "Seventeen Malaysian areas recorded unhealthy air quality due to ongoing haze issues.",
    "Sri Aman in Sarawak had the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 167 at 8am.",
    "API readings between 101 and 200 indicate unhealthy air quality."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The widespread unhealthy air quality readings across Malaysia signify a significant deterioration in environmental conditions, affecting various regions and potentially impacting public health and daily activities.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : 17 Areas Record Unhealthy API Readings, Sri Aman Highest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/general-17-areas-record-unhealthy-api-readings-sri-aman-highest",
        "published": "2026-08-25T23:50:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}