{
  "id": 4365701,
  "title": "Haze: Public urged to reduce outdoor activities in Sarawak",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/haze-public-urged-to-reduce-outdoor-activities-in-sarawak",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T06:53:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/08/1522054/haze-public-urged-reduce-outdoor-activities-sarawak"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUCHING, Sarawak - The Sarawak government is urging the public to limit outdoor activities during school holidays due to deteriorating air quality caused by transboundary haze. Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, has advised high-risk groups like children, the elderly and those with respiratory issues to take precautionary measures and wear masks. The Air Pollutant Index (API) in Sarawak has reached hazardous levels, from 300 to 400. The state government will initiate cloud seeding operations in early September to address the issue, which is expected to persist due to hotspots in Kalimantan and dry weather conditions.",
  "summary": "KUCHING: The public, particularly parents, have been urged to avoid outdoor physical activities during the school holidays to protect their children's health amid deteriorating air quality caused by transboundary haze.",
  "key_points": [
    "Sarawak government urges public to limit outdoor activities during school holidays.",
    "High-risk groups advised to wear masks and take precautionary measures.",
    "State to initiate cloud seeding operations in early September to address haze issue."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The government's advice to limit outdoor activities and take precautionary measures reflects a heightened response to severe air quality issues affecting vulnerable populations in Sarawak.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}