Haze watch: Sungai Petani, Johan Setia worsen as five more areas in Malaysia edge towards unhealthy levels

A boatman wears a face mask as haze shrouds Kuching, where the API reached 180 at noon on August 23, 2026. — Bernama pic

By Malay Mail

First Published: Sunday, 23 Aug 2026 5:27 PM MYT

Last Modified: Sunday, 23 Aug 2026 5:28 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 — The haze picture shifted across peninsular Malaysia this afternoon, with Sungai Petani worsening and five other areas creeping towards unhealthy levels, while Sarawak remained the country’s worst-affected region.

Worsening

Sungai Petani in Kedah recorded an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 153 at 5pm, up from 140 at 9am.

Johan Setia in Selangor also worsened slightly, climbing from 157 to 160 and remaining the highest reading in the peninsula.

Improving

Taiping in Perak, meanwhile, improved from 121 at 9am to 112 at 5pm, but remained in the unhealthy category.

Creeping towards unhealthy

Five locations were now hovering close to the unhealthy threshold, with Klang recording 95, Banting and Putrajaya 93 each, Bukit Rambai in Melaka 92 and Nilai in Negeri Sembilan 91.

All five remained in the moderate category but were within 10 points of the unhealthy threshold.

Sarawak still worst hit

Sarawak continued to record the country’s highest API readings, although all four affected locations showed slight improvements compared with this morning.

Serian remained the worst affected at 186, down from 194 at 9am, followed by Kuching at 176 from 183, while Samarahan eased from 175 to 173 and Sri Aman from 177 to 173.

What the numbers mean

API readings of 0 to 50 are categorised as good, 51 to 100 as moderate, 101 to 200 as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy, and above 300 as hazardous.

The Department of Environment is monitoring air quality through 68 stations nationwide, with readings updated hourly.

The latest readings come as the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre continues to monitor hotspot activity and smoke plumes in parts of the region, with prevailing winds blowing from the southeast.