Malaysia

Three areas in Sarawak and Selangor record unhealthy air quality

Samarahan and Johan Setia in Selangor registers unhealthy air quality amid worsening conditions in parts of the country

Updated 1 month ago · Published on 16 Aug 2026 6:07PM

Three areas in Sarawak and Selangor record unhealthy air quality
Serian records Malaysia’s highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 157 as of 5pm - August 16, 2026

AIR quality in three areas in Sarawak and Selangor reached unhealthy levels as of 5pm today, with Serian recording the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in the country.

According to data from the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), Serian recorded an API reading of 157, followed by Samarahan at 147.

Johan Setia in Selangor also recorded an unhealthy reading, with its API standing at 120.

A total of 65 other air quality monitoring stations nationwide recorded moderate readings during the same period.

Under Malaysia’s API classification, readings of zero to 50 are considered good, while readings between 51 and 100 are classified as moderate.

Readings between 101 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy, while levels between 201 and 300 are considered very unhealthy.

Any API reading above 300 is classified as hazardous.

APIMS issues hourly API readings based on data collected from 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide, providing real-time indications of air pollution levels across the country.

The latest readings underscore continued air quality concerns in parts of Sarawak, where several areas have experienced deteriorating conditions in recent days. - August 16, 2026

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