Haze: Govt ready to declare emergency if API exceeds 400

KUALA BERANG: The Malaysian government is prepared to declare a state of emergency in regions with an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading above 400, as per national haze management standard operating procedures. Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup disclosed that three areas - Kuching, Kota Samarahan, and Sri Aman - have experienced very unhealthy air quality levels. The government will concentrate cloud seeding operations on these three affected regions.

Out of 68 air pollution monitoring stations, only three have recorded very unhealthy readings, located in Kuching, Kota Samarahan, and Sri Aman. Additionally, a station in Serian continues to record hazardous levels. Arthur stated that the government will persist with cloud seeding efforts to alleviate haze levels, particularly in Serian where an emergency has been declared.

The government plans to continue cloud seeding activities in various parts of Sarawak and northern Peninsular Malaysia, including Kedah and Perlis, as these operations have yielded positive results, with rain commencing yesterday afternoon and persisting until early this morning. The Malaysian government has obtained written authorization from Indonesia, allowing their aerial assets to access the country's airspace for cloud seeding operations.

Arthur emphasized that the Indonesian government will enforce appropriate actions against Malaysian plantation companies accused of engaging in open burning activities.