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Nine areas across Sarawak are experiencing unhealthy air quality readings, with Serian hitting a very unhealthy API level of 227. The deterioration stems from transboundary smoke moving from Kalimantan into western Sarawak.
Malaysia's environmental ministry will escalate decisions about the 2026 National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations to Cabinet level if air quality continues declining, prioritizing public health over festivities.
Malaysia must shift from reactive to proactive haze management, warns Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, as air quality deteriorates in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. He proposes a five-point strategy including stronger regional cooperation and local accountability.
Singapore's National Environment Agency is on high alert as smoke from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan drift toward the island nation under prevailing wind patterns, with the Haze Task Force prepared to activate emergency protocols.