{
  "id": 3452333,
  "title": "Govt to decide today on National Day celebrations amid haze",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/govt-to-decide-today-on-national-day-celebrations-amid-haze",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T07:19:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/08/1519106/govt-decide-today-national-day-celebrations-amid-haze"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian government is set to decide today whether to alter the scale and location of the 2026 National Day celebrations due to widespread haze, according to Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar will announce the decision after consulting with relevant ministries, the Malaysian Meteorological Department, and the Health Ministry. The Chief Secretary will deliberate on the event's scale, location, and necessary health and safety measures for all attendees and participants. They will review weather projections for the upcoming five to six days, considering possible scenarios, including the haze. This decision will be made today, Fahmi said during a press conference in Putrajaya.",
  "summary": "PUTRAJAYA: The government will soon decide whether to adjust the scale and venue of the 2026 National Day celebrations amid deteriorating air quality caused by haze nationwide, says Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysian government to decide on National Day celebrations today",
    "Decision based on haze, weather projections, health measures",
    "Chief Secretary to consult ministries, meteorological department"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Haze: Decision on National Day celebrations to be made today",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/haze-decision-on-national-day-celebrations-to-be-made-today",
        "published": "2026-08-26T07:52:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Thick haze forces rethink of National Day celebrations in Putrajaya, but cancellation not on cards",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/thick-haze-forces-rethink-of-national-day-celebrations-in-putrajaya",
        "published": "2026-08-26T07:54:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Haze may force changes to National Day celebrations, says Fahmi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/haze-may-force-changes-to-national-day-celebrations-says-fahmi",
        "published": "2026-08-26T08:53:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}