Environment across Malaysia
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Haze: IPD Serian only spot at very unhealthy API of 218, 12 others unhealthy
Air Pollutant Index readings at IPD Serian in Sarawak hit 218 as of 4pm, the only location at the very unhealthy level. Twelve other locations recorded unhealthy readings, including ten in Sarawak plus Pasir Gudang in Johor and Johan Setia in Selangor. MetMalaysia also issued thunderstorm and heavy rain warnings for several states.
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Zoo Negara denies neglecting animal safety during flash flood
Zoo Negara has denied claims that it neglected animal safety during a flash flood two days ago. Its deputy president, Datuk Rosly Lana, said overflow from Sungai Pandan and Sungai Kemensah raised water levels to 1.2 metres, but no animals were injured or killed and enclosures have been cleaned.
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Sarawak sets 12-hour emergency water delivery target
Sarawak has set a 12-hour emergency water delivery target as prolonged dry weather depletes reservoirs and disrupts supplies statewide. Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas said the state government has directed agencies to implement immediate measures, with the Rural Water Supply Department and Welfare Department coordinating deliveries. Betong, parts of Serian and rural Miri are among the worst affected areas.
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MetMalaysia issues thunderstorm warning for 11 states until 5pm
The Malaysian Meteorological Department has issued a thunderstorm, heavy rain and strong wind warning for 11 states until 5pm today. The states involved are Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor, Johor, Sarawak and Sabah, covering districts including Kerian, Kuantan, Hulu Langat, Kapit, Miri, Tawau and Sandakan. The warning is issued when there are signs of thunderstorms with rain intensity exceeding 20 mm per hour expected to last more than an hour.
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Malaysian climber missing in Nepal, friend hopes family stays strong
A Malaysian climber who is also a fire officer remains uncontactable after the Nepal flood disaster. Fellow climber Mohd Khafiz Bachok said survival chances are slim and hoped Fakhrul's family would remain strong. Some 55 Malaysians are still unaccounted for while 77 who were found safe have been brought to Kathmandu.
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Mount Ili Lewotolok erupts six times, Bromo area closed
Several Indonesian volcanoes recorded eruptions on Friday, including Mount Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara, which erupted six times with ash reaching 700 metres above its peak. Mount Semeru and Mount Ibu remain active, while part of the Mount Bromo tourism area in East Java has been closed after a savanna fire.
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Four Sarawak areas record unhealthy API as haze eases
Only four areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index readings as of 6am Friday, signalling the haze is easing. Samarahan logged 179, followed by Sarikei (174), Sri Aman (160) and Sibu (154), while 50 other areas nationwide were at moderate levels.
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World Bank: climate change could cost Malaysia up to 8.3% of GDP by 2050
A World Bank report puts Malaysia's worst-case climate exposure at up to 8.3% of GDP by 2050, with about half already visible in today's data and agriculture alone potentially falling 18%. Flooding has accounted for 85% of Malaysia's recorded disasters since 2000, and Bank Negara found two-thirds of the RM4 billion lost in the 2021 floods was uninsured. The writer argues this slow-building risk outweighs Malaysia's tariff exposure, which fell to about 4.6% of export value after exemptions.
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Strong El Niño forecast, health experts warn of rising dengue risk
The tropical Pacific has entered El Niño conditions, with forecasts showing a high probability of a very strong event through the 2026-2027 northern hemisphere winter. Malaysian public health doctors warn this climate signal points to a heightened risk of dengue outbreaks across tropical regions, including Malaysia, and urge early action.
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Pulau Burung landfill in Nibong Tebal catches fire again
A fire broke out at the Pulau Burung solid waste landfill in Nibong Tebal, Penang, late last night. The blaze covered an area of about 36 metres by 27 metres and was brought under control at 12.30am before being fully extinguished around 5am. Seventeen firefighters from four stations were involved, and no casualties were reported.
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Haze eases but 17 areas still record unhealthy API
Air quality across Malaysia improved as of 8am, with 46 areas at moderate API levels and five good, but 17 areas remain unhealthy. Sarawak is worst affected with 11 areas above 100, including Serian, Kuching and Samarahan. Rain in several states helped, and at-risk groups are advised to keep taking precautions.
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Green turtle size at Pulau Redang shrinks, UMT study finds
A Universiti Malaysia Terengganu study found the average size of green turtles nesting at Pulau Redang fell from 100.8cm in 2005 to 96.8cm in 2022, with estimated weight dropping from 120kg to 105kg. Although nest numbers rose from 300 to 2,000 a year, researchers raised questions about habitat carrying capacity and changes in turtle population structure.
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Indonesian wildfires double respiratory infections; Malaysia offers firefighting help
Respiratory infections linked to wildfire pollution in Indonesia more than doubled to 113,336 cases by Sept 9 from 50,891 on Sept 1, Indonesia's health ministry said. Fires across Sumatra and Borneo have exposed more than 12.5 million people to haze, with Singapore and Malaysia also recording unhealthy air quality. Malaysia has offered aerial firefighting assistance, and Japan has sent three Chinook helicopters to aid water-bombing operations in West Kalimantan.
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Natural History Museum and Aquaria KLCC launch Hidden Wonders of Malaysia campaign
The 'Hidden Wonders of Malaysia' campaign was launched today as a collaboration between the Department of Museums Malaysia through the Natural History Museum and Aquaria KLCC. The three-month exhibition combines preserved natural history specimens with live marine life to raise awareness of biodiversity conservation. It also supports preparations for Malaysia's first Natural History Museum.
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Six orangutans rescued from forest fires in West Kalimantan
Six orangutans, including two nursing infants, were rescued from fire-hit areas in the interior of West Kalimantan, Indonesia, over the past week. The operation brings the number of orangutans rescued in the province in a month to 15. Smoke from the Borneo forest fires has also affected Malaysia and Singapore.
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Indonesian VP apologises to Kalimantan residents over haze
Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka apologised to residents across Kalimantan for air quality that has not fully recovered due to ongoing forest and land fires. He inspected the fire response centre in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, and visited three affected regions: Palangka Raya, Banjarbaru and Kubu Raya. Gibran said the government will maximise efforts in line with President Prabowo Subianto's instructions.
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Nepal-China border floods: 1,420 dead, 5,649 still missing
Flash floods and mudslides along the Nepal-China border have killed 1,420 people, with 5,649 still unaccounted for, according to the latest official figures. Nepal's disaster authority says 1,377 deaths and 5,130 missing are on its side, while 43 died and 519 remain missing in China's Xizang region. More than 21,000 Nepali security personnel are involved in search and rescue, and 13,656 people have been pulled to safety.
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August set a new global heat record as El Nino strengthens, EU monitor says
The Copernicus Climate Change Service said global average air temperatures in August reached 16.96°C, edging past the previous single-month record set in July 2023. The EU monitor linked the heat to fossil fuel emissions and a strengthening El Nino, whose dry conditions have already fed wildfires on Borneo. Scientists expect 2027 to set a new record once the El Nino peaks.
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Eight Malayan tiger cubs born under MPOGCF-Perhilitan programme
Eight Malayan tiger cubs were born to one female between 2023 and 2025 under a conservation programme run by MPOGCF and Perhilitan, with the births recorded at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Sungkai, Perak. MPOGCF has spent RM2 million since 2021 on ex-situ breeding, research and training, and a new MoU with FELDA is being finalised.
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Anak Krakatau stays at Level III as Lampung readies tsunami plans
Indonesian authorities are strengthening tsunami preparedness along Lampung's coast facing Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, with evacuation routes and warning sirens checked in South Lampung. The volcano remains at Level III, the second-highest alert level, with a three-kilometre exclusion zone. Health officials report 68,919 acute respiratory infection cases across Lampung, Banten, Jakarta and West Java from volcanic ash.
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Selangor 2027 budget to focus on climate, care economy and manufacturing, says Amirudin
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the state's 2027 budget, due to be tabled in November, will prioritise the climate crisis, the care economy and manufacturing competitiveness. He said the priorities were gathered from a budget engagement session and that climate change must be tackled as a crisis with federal and other state cooperation.
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Wife of missing firefighter in Nepal asks Malaysians to pray
Hani Othman, wife of firefighter Mohd Fakhrul Munir Mohd Isa who went missing in floods in Rasuwa, Nepal, has asked Malaysians to keep praying for the SMART rescue operation. She is on her 13th day in Nepal and has yet to receive updates from Wisma Putra. Fifty-five Malaysians remain uncontactable while 77 who were found safe have been brought to Kathmandu.
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Indonesia charges 138 forest fire suspects, says KJRI Kuching
Indonesian police received 200 forest fire reports up to 7 September, with 138 individuals identified as suspects and eight companies facing prosecution. The Indonesian consulate in Kuching said enforcement is being tightened across six main regions including Kalimantan and Sumatra, with 43,951 personnel and 55 aircraft deployed. Several Kalimantan districts recorded hazardous air quality, with Kotawaringin Timur highest at 1,119.
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Indonesia detects 395 hotspots as Kalimantan haze stays hazardous
Indonesia recorded 395 hotspots as of Wednesday night, with several Kalimantan regencies still in the hazardous air quality category. The Indonesian Consul General in Kuching said 43,951 personnel and 55 aircraft have been deployed to fight forest and land fires in six priority provinces.