{
  "id": 649281,
  "title": "Haze hits Malaysia as 12 air monitoring stations record unhealthy API readings",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/haze-hits-malaysia-as-12-air-monitoring-stations-record-unhealthy-api",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-12T09:23:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/08/12/haze-hits-malaysia-as-12-air-monitoring-stations-record-unhealthy-api-readings/231096"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Malaysia is currently experiencing a haze due to unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings recorded at 12 air monitoring stations as of 3pm today, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES). The El Niño phenomenon and the Southwest Monsoon have resulted in below-average rainfall and higher temperatures, increasing the risk of water shortages, forest and peat fires, and haze, particularly in areas with prolonged dry conditions. The Ministry stated that 11 of the 68 monitoring stations recorded unhealthy API readings, including Cheras in Kuala Lumpur (122), Putrajaya (121), Shah Alam in Selangor (112), and several stations in Sarawak such as Miri (152), Samalaju (120), Bintulu (154), Sibu (135), Sarikei (161), Sri Aman (158), Samarahan (177), and Kuching (177). The deteriorating air quality in Sarawak is caused by transboundary haze and local fires at a waste disposal site and forest and bush fires in Sri Aman. Firefighting operations are ongoing at both locations.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Haze hits Malaysia as 12 air monitoring stations record unhealthy API readings",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/haze-hits-malaysia-as-12-air-monitoring-stations-record-unhealthy-api-649866",
        "published": "2026-08-12T09:23:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}