Serian is the only area with unhealthy air quality

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 27, 2026

Air quality in Sarawak has improved, with only Serian remaining in the unhealthy category according to the latest Department of Environment readings. This improvement follows days of haze caused by transboundary smoke from Kalimantan and Sumatra, but rain forecasted in Kuching and Serian may help reduce lingering haze levels.

Air quality in Sarawak has shown signs of improvement, with Serian remaining the only area classified as having unhealthy air quality, according to the Department of Environment's latest data. As of 6 p.m. on Saturday, the Air Pollutant Index (API) at the IPD Serian monitoring station stood at 120, which falls within the unhealthy category defined by an API between 101 and 200.

This marks a notable improvement from the previous Friday, when three Sarawak locations—Serian, Samarahan, and Kuching—were reported to have unhealthy air quality levels. Additionally, Sri Aman, which had earlier registered an unhealthy reading, has returned to a moderate API level of between 51 and 100.

In Peninsular Malaysia, air quality remained moderate across most areas, with Johan Setia recording the highest API at 76. Other areas such as Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya showed readings of 75 and 73 respectively, while Kuala Selangor and Klang had readings of 68 and 64. Some parts of the country reported good air quality levels.

The improved air quality follows several days of haze conditions affecting Sarawak, where certain locations experienced unhealthy API values during the week. The haze is attributed in part to transboundary smoke haze originating from hotspot clusters in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) forecasts rain in Kuching and Serian on Sunday, with the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms. Despite the rain, haze conditions are expected to persist during the nighttime in these areas.

The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) reported moderate transboundary smoke haze over northwestern Borneo, with moderate to dense smoke plumes detected from active hotspots in parts of Kalimantan and southern Sumatra. It suggested that rainfall over parts of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia could alleviate the smoke and haze conditions, though areas experiencing extended dry weather may continue to face elevated haze levels.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.