MIRI: The worst regional haze since 1997 returned to Sarawak in August and September this year, forcing outdoor activities to be cancelled, schools to shut down, and even threatened to stop the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR).

The IPL Miri station recorded a hazardous air pollutant index (API) reading of 442, the highest in the country, on Aug 22 due to the raging forest and peat soil fires in Kuala Baram.