Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak town as haze pollution level hits 521
Malaysia declared an emergency on Friday in a town in Sarawak state on Borneo Island after air pollution breached the country’s emergency-level threshold linked to fires in neighbouring Indonesia. The Air Pollutant Index in Serian, a small agricultural town of just under 90,000 near the border of Indonesia’s Kalimantan province, surged to 521 on Friday, according to Malaysia’s environment…
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim disclosed plans to discuss additional measures with the Sarawak government regarding the escalating haze situation in the region. Anwar contacted Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg to address the issue, emphasizing that further steps, such as the declaration of a disaster emergency, may be considered if the Air Pollutant Index (API) continues to exceed 500 in Serian.
Should an emergency be declared, the government would implement safety measures, including the suspension of non-essential operations in offices and schools except for critical agencies. Anwar assured that all necessary actions would be taken, even if the haze originated from elsewhere, to ensure the safety of affected individuals.
He also prayed for the well-being of people in Serian, Sarawak, and other impacted areas. The API reading in Serian remained hazardous at 518, while Kuching recorded a hazardous level of 310. Two other areas, Samarahan and Sri Aman, were classified as "very unhealthy" with API readings of 281 and 245, respectively.
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- Anwar to discuss further action on Sarawak haze with Abang Jo malaymail.com
- Air quality in Serian exceeds emergency level at 517 freemalaysiatoday.com
- Anwar: Putrajaya, Sarawak in talks over Serian haze as API exceeds 500 nst.com.my
- Sarawak declares emergency in Serian district due to haze thejakartapost.com
- Sarawak town chokes as haze pushes air pollution past Malaysia’s emergency threshold winnipegfreepress.com
