{
  "id": 4760602,
  "title": "Clearer skies in peninsula, but hazardous air quality in 6 parts of Sarawak",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/clearer-skies-in-peninsula-but-hazardous-air-quality-in-6-parts-of-4760602",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T00:51:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/01/clearer-skies-in-peninsula-but-hazardous-air-quality-in-6-parts-of-sarawak"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The air quality in West Malaysia has shown improvement, with moderate air pollutant index (API) readings across the majority of the peninsula. However, the haze situation has worsened in East Malaysia, particularly in six areas of Sarawak where hazardous air quality has been recorded. These areas include Serian (API 408), Kuching (API 407), Samarahan (API 372), Sri Aman (API 361), Sarikei (API 333) and Sibu (API 309). Mukah (API 234), Bintulu (API 232) and Samalaju (API 225) were found to have very unhealthy readings. Eight regions in East Malaysia also experienced unhealthy API levels: Miri Industrial Training Institute (API 187), Miri (API 180), Kapit (API 178), Labuan (API 167), Limbang (API 166), Kimanis (API 156), Keningau (API 156) and Tawau (API 132). Johan Setia in Selangor was the sole locality on the peninsula with an unhealthy API score of 123. East Malaysia's only area reporting a moderate API reading of 91 was Sabah, which is close to the unhealthy threshold. Air quality is classified as follows: 0 to 50 signifies good quality; 51 to 100 indicates moderate; 101 to 200 is unhealthy; 201 to 300 represents very unhealthy; and 300 or higher denotes hazardous conditions.",
  "summary": "Hazardous, very unhealthy and unhealthy air quality is recorded throughout East Malaysia, with the exception of Sandakan.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Sarawak says no emergency unless API breaches 500, Serian readings remain hazardous",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/sarawak-says-no-emergency-unless-api-breaches-500-serian-readings",
        "published": "2026-08-31T05:01:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Four areas in Sarawak record 'hazardous' air quality; East Malaysian state prepares for possible haze emergency",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/four-areas-in-sarawak-record-hazardous-air-quality-east-malaysian",
        "published": "2026-08-31T07:41:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Haze: Emergency only in areas with API of 500, not the whole of Sarawak",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/haze-emergency-only-in-areas-with-api-of-500-not-the-whole-of-sarawak",
        "published": "2026-08-31T08:18:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "SNAPSHOT | EC to unveil 17 proposed new S'wak seats; emergency in parts of state if API breaches 500",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/snapshot-ec-to-unveil-17-proposed-new-swak-seats-emergency-in-parts",
        "published": "2026-08-31T10:07:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Clearer skies in peninsula, but hazardous air quality in 6 parts of Sarawak",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/clearer-skies-in-peninsula-but-hazardous-air-quality-in-6-parts-of",
        "published": "2026-09-01T00:51:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}