{
  "id": 5341878,
  "title": "Kualiti udara merosot, Serian catat IPU bahaya",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/kualiti-udara-merosot-serian-catat-ipu-bahaya-5341878",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T13:18:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/09/03/kualiti-udara-merosot-serian-catat-ipu-bahaya"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Air quality in the country continues to deteriorate, with the Serian monitoring station recording a hazardous Air Pollution Index (IPU) of 391, according to the Malaysia Environment Department. Four other districts in Sarawak, including Kuching, Sri Aman, Samarahan, and Sarikei, are currently classified as extremely unhealthy with IPU levels of 285, 275, 274, and 206, respectively. The department reported that 14 districts recorded unhealthy air quality levels, 45 had moderate levels, and three were deemed good. In Sarawak, these districts include Sibu (180), Mukah (172), Bintulu (166), Samalaju (164), Kapit (157), Miri Industrial Training Center (153), Limbang (151), and Miri itself (106). Sabah also experienced similar conditions with Politeknik Kota Kinabalu and Kota Kinabalu recording IPU levels of 156, Kimanis (155), and Keningau (154). Labuan and Johan Setia in Selangor also recorded levels of 157 and 127, respectively. According to Azuri Azizah Saedon, Deputy Chief (Development) of the Environment Department, the country's air quality deteriorated on the same day due to factors such as the movement of smoke from various directions, particularly in Sarawak, Sabah, and Labuan. The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) reported on September 2, noting 795 hotspots in Kalimantan, 144 in Sumatra, and three in Malaysia, all situated in Sarawak. ASMC's satellite image from September 2 revealed a cluster of hotspots spreading across northern Borneo and the southern Philippines. The deputy also highlighted the presence of simple to thick smoke plumes originating from multiple hotspot clusters in various regions of Kalimantan and central to southern Sumatra. The expanding hotspot activities and widespread smoke conditions in the ASEAN south have prompted the ASEAN Secretariat to activate Alert Level 3 for the ASEAN south region starting August 27, in line with the ASEAN Major Agencies Joint Response SOP. The department said the JAS, through the National Smoke Action Plan (JAS), will continue to monitor air quality closely and take necessary actions in coordination with relevant agencies based on the current level and developments.",
  "summary": "Jabatan Alam Sekitar berkata empat kawasan iaitu Kuching, Sri Aman, Samarahan dan Sarikei mencatatkan IPU sangat tidak sihat.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Kualiti udara merosot, Serian catat IPU bahaya",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/kualiti-udara-merosot-serian-catat-ipu-bahaya",
        "published": "2026-09-03T13:18:20.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}