{
  "id": 8572359,
  "title": "21 locations still with unhealthy air quality",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/21-locations-still-with-unhealthy-air-quality",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T00:46:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/20/21-locations-still-with-unhealthy-air-quality"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As of this morning, air quality in 21 locations across Malaysia remained unhealthy, led by Serian in Sarawak. An emergency had been declared in Serian earlier in the month, where an API reading of 182 was recorded at 8am. Following Serian, Samarahan, Kuching, and Sri Aman also had unhealthy air quality, with API readings of 168, 167, and 164 respectively. Other areas with unhealthy air quality included Larkin in Johor, Pasir Gudang in Johor, and Putrajaya and Nilai in Negeri Sembilan, all with API readings of 162, 155, 154, and 154 respectively. Shah Alam, Selangor; Segamat, Johor; and Bintulu and Sibu in Sarawak recorded API readings of 153. The remaining 21 locations included Tangkak in Johor, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur, Johan Setia in Selangor, Sarikei in Sarawak, Seremban in Negeri Sembilan, Bukit Rambai in Melaka, Kota Tinggi in Johor, and Bandaraya Melaka, all with API readings below 123. Forty-one locations had moderate API readings, while five had good air quality.",
  "summary": "Serian in Sarawak, where an emergency was declared early in September, tops the list with an API reading of 182 as of 8am.",
  "key_points": [
    "21 locations in Malaysia still have unhealthy air quality.",
    "Serian in Sarawak has API reading of 182, triggering emergency.",
    "Remaining 21 locations have API readings below 123, 41 locations moderate air quality."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Widespread unhealthy air quality persists across Malaysia, affecting various regions including major areas in Sarawak, Johor, and Negeri Sembilan, with Serian recording the highest reading.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "21 locations still with unhealthy air quality",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/21-locations-still-with-unhealthy-air-quality-8572671",
        "published": "2026-09-20T00:46:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}