{
  "id": 5732567,
  "title": "Government ready to declare emergency if API exceeds 400, says Arthur Kurup",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/government-ready-to-declare-emergency-if-api-exceeds-400-says-arthur",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T06:57:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/05/government-ready-to-declare-emergency-if-api-exceeds-400-says-arthur-kurup/234034"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA BERANG, Sept 5 — The Malaysian government is prepared to declare an emergency in regions where the Air Pollution Index (API) reading surpasses the hazardous level of 400, as recommended in the standard haze management protocol. Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, suggested that such a measure would be contemplated if an API reading reached a perilously high level, similar to the situation in Serian, Sarawak, which witnessed a reading exceeding 500 and prompted an emergency declaration. Kurup explained to the press after the inauguration of the Madani Adoption Village and School project that only three out of the 68 API monitoring stations across the nation have reported extremely unhealthy readings, namely in Kuching, Samarahan, and Sri Aman, Sarawak, while the readings in Serian were categorized as dangerous. He further stated that the emergency declaration would remain in force until the API readings declined to a safer level, and safety measures like school closures and mask usage would be implemented during this period. It was previously announced that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim had declared an emergency across the entire Serian Division, Sarawak, due to the hazardous air pollution levels that posed risks to public health and safety. The Prime Minister's Office in a statement disclosed that this decision was made after consulting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, and relevant agencies regarding the area's air quality conditions. In related news, Arthur disclosed that the cloud seeding operation executed in Sarawak and the northern peninsula, including Kedah and Perlis, yielded favorable outcomes, with multiple areas experiencing rainfall from the evening of yesterday until early today. Malaysia had also obtained written consent from the Indonesian Government to allow its air assets to enter the republic's airspace for cloud seeding operations. \"We have conducted cloud seeding operations in Sarawak and occasionally for broader operations, our air assets require crossing the border to 'shoot' at the clouds, and the wind will carry the clouds to our country,\" he elaborated. Additionally, Kurup mentioned that Malaysia has offered resources and personnel to aid in the process of combating the open fires presently occurring in Indonesia, but as of now, there has been no formal request from Indonesia to utilize these services.",
  "summary": "KUALA BERANG, Sept 5 — The government is ready to propose declaring an emergency for any area that records an Air...",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysian government ready to declare emergency if API exceeds 400.",
    "Only three of 68 monitoring stations report extremely unhealthy readings.",
    "Emergency declared in Serian Division due to hazardous air pollution."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The government's readiness to declare an emergency in regions with hazardous air pollution levels signals a more proactive approach to addressing severe haze, affecting public health and safety measures.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "Govt prepared to declare emergency in areas where API exceed 400",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/govt-prepared-to-declare-emergency-in-areas-where-api-exceed-400",
        "published": "2026-09-05T06:34:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Government ready to declare emergency if API exceeds 400, says Arthur Kurup",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/government-ready-to-declare-emergency-if-api-exceeds-400-says-arthur-5740782",
        "published": "2026-09-05T06:57:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Haze: Govt ready to declare emergency if API exceeds 400",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/haze-govt-ready-to-declare-emergency-if-api-exceeds-400",
        "published": "2026-09-05T07:12:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}