{
  "id": 5038396,
  "title": "Malaysia Day celebrations to be held indoors in Kuching amid haze",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/malaysia-day-celebrations-to-be-held-indoors-in-kuching-amid-haze",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T07:27:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1524236/malaysia-day-celebrations-be-held-indoors-kuching-amid-haze"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia Day festivities on September 16 will take place indoors at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) due to escalating haze issues in Sarawak, according to government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. The cabinet acknowledged that the concerning haze conditions in Kuching and Sri Aman, Sarawak, would prevent any outdoor events from proceeding. However, the Malaysia Day celebration will be held indoors on the evening of September 16, Fahmi informed reporters during his weekly press conference. In terms of cloud seeding operations in Sarawak, Fahmi revealed that the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry had advised the cabinet that such activities were contingent upon recommendations from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), contingent upon identifying clouds suitable for seeding. He further disclosed that recent cloud formations detected by MetMalaysia had been deemed unsuitable due to wind patterns pushing them towards the South China Sea, indicating that any seeding conducted would fail to yield rainfall in the areas most in need.",
  "summary": "PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia Day celebrations on Sept 16 will be held indoors at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) due to worsening haze conditions in Sarawak, government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said today.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysia Day celebrations moved indoors in Kuching due to haze",
    "Cabinet acknowledged unsuitable outdoor events for haze conditions",
    "Cloud seeding operations contingent on MetMalaysia recommendations"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The decision to move Malaysia Day celebrations indoors in Kuching reflects the government's prioritization of public health over festivities amid severe haze conditions in Sarawak.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Malaysia Day celebration to move indoors amid Sarawak haze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/malaysia-day-celebration-to-move-indoors-amid-sarawak-haze",
        "published": "2026-09-02T07:59:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}