Malaysia

Air quality worsens as 20 areas record unhealthy API readings

Sri Aman in Sarawak records the highest reading at 197, according to the Air Pollutant Index Management System

Updated 46 minutes ago · Published on 28 Aug 2026 11:34AM

Air quality worsens as 20 areas record unhealthy API readings
Twenty areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 10am on Friday - August 28, 2026

TWENTY areas nationwide recorded unhealthy air quality readings as of 10am on Friday (Aug 28), with Sarawak accounting for five of the affected locations.

Sri Aman recorded the highest API reading in the country at 197, followed by IPD Serian at 175, Sarikei at 154, Kuching at 142 and Miri at 129.

Outside Sarawak, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest reading at 159, followed by Seberang Perai in Penang at 158, Minden in Penang at 157 and Taiping in Perak at 155.

Other areas with unhealthy readings were Seberang Jaya and Johan Setia, both at 153; Sungai Petani, Batu Muda and Shah Alam, all at 152; Putrajaya at 147; Tasek Ipoh at 138; Petaling Jaya at 126; Alor Setar at 111; Seremban at 107; and Seri Manjung at 102.

Meanwhile, 46 areas recorded moderate API readings, while Jerantut in Pahang was the only monitoring station to record good air quality, with a reading of 37.

Under Malaysia's API classification, readings from zero to 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy and readings above 300 hazardous.

API readings are updated hourly based on data from 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide. - August 28, 2026

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