{
  "id": 5782117,
  "title": "Govt ready to declare emergency when API is over 400",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/govt-ready-to-declare-emergency-when-api-is-over-400-5782117",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T12:43:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/05/govt-ready-to-declare-emergency-when-api-is-over-400"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Malaysian government is considering declaring emergency measures for areas with air pollution levels above 400, according to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup. Hazardous readings above 400 have been recorded in Serian, while very unhealthy levels have been reported in Kuching, Samarahan, and Sri Aman. The emergency declaration in Serian, which began on Friday, will remain in place until pollution levels decrease to safer levels. Schools in the area have been ordered to close for five days, with home-based teaching and learning to be conducted. Air quality readings in Serian peaked at 512 on Friday but have since decreased to 219. Cloud seeding operations in Sarawak, Kedah, and Perlis have shown positive results, with rain occurring in several areas. Malaysia has also received permission from Indonesia to use their airspace for cloud seeding operations. The Asean haze monitoring center reported moderate to dense smoke plumes over northern Borneo, originating from hotspot clusters in Kalimantan and Sumatra.",
  "summary": "Federal minister Arthur Joseph Kurup said only Serian had 'hazardous' pollution readings, while Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman showed 'very unhealthy' levels.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Govt ready to declare emergency when API is over 400",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/govt-ready-to-declare-emergency-when-api-is-over-400",
        "published": "2026-09-05T12:43:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}