Govt prepared to declare emergency in areas where API exceed 400
Minister says this is in line with haze management SOPs.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 — The Malaysian government is prepared to declare an emergency for regions that witness an Air Pollution Index (API) reading exceeding 400, adhering to the standard haze management protocol. Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, clarified that such a measure could be contemplated if the API reading reached a perilously hazardous level, as evidenced by the emergency declaration in Serian, Sarawak, which logged a reading above 500.
“If it is more than 400, it is considered very dangerous and can be considered to declare an emergency,” Kurup stated to reporters following the Handover Ceremony of the Madani Adoption Village and Madani Adoption School Project in 2026. Currently, only three of the 68 API monitoring stations across the nation have recorded very unhealthy readings, including Kuching, Samarahan, and Sri Aman in Sarawak, with Serian registering readings in the dangerous range.
Kurup indicated that the emergency declaration would remain in place until the API readings improve to a safer level, with safety measures such as school closures and wearing face masks implemented during this period. Recently, it was reported that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, declared an emergency in Serian Division, Sarawak, due to the hazardous air pollution levels that jeopardized the health and well-being of the public.
The Prime Minister's Office announced the decision after considering the advice from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, and relevant agencies regarding the air quality in the area. Meanwhile, cloud seeding operations carried out in Sarawak and the northern peninsula, specifically in Kedah and Perlis, yielded promising outcomes, with multiple areas experiencing rainfall from yesterday evening to early this morning.
Kurup elaborated that Malaysia had received formal permission from the Indonesian Government to permit its air assets to enter the republic's airspace for cloud seeding purposes. “We have conducted cloud seeding operations in Sarawak and, at times, for broader operations, our air assets must traverse the border to 'strike' at the clouds, and the wind will transport the clouds to our country,” he explained.
Furthermore, Kurup disclosed that Malaysia had extended assistance and resources to aid in the suppression of open fires currently ravaging Indonesia, but no formal request has been made by the country thus far.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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