Malaysia declares haze emergency in Sarawak district
Hazardous smoke linked to forest and peat fires in neighbouring Indonesia has pushed air pollution in Serian beyond Malaysia’s emergency threshold.
Malaysia’s king has approved a state of emergency across Serian Division in Sarawak after worsening haze was judged a danger to public health and safety.
The declaration followed advice from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg and agencies monitoring the crisis, according to the Prime Minister’s Office statement reported by The Star.
Air pollution passes emergency threshold
Malaysia’s Department of Environment recorded an Air Pollutant Index reading of 519 in Serian on Friday, 4 September. Readings above 300 are classed as hazardous, while 500 is the threshold for an emergency, Reuters reported.
The Associated Press recorded a later Serian reading of 521 and said Kuching, Sarawak’s much larger capital, was also in the hazardous range at 311. The small agricultural district of Serian has a population of just under 90,000.
The emergency is confined to Serian. Sarawak’s disaster-management authorities said workplaces and outdoor activities could be halted, while supermarkets, banks, petrol stations, security services and other essential operations would continue. Schools had already closed in affected areas under rules applied when the index exceeds 200.
Regional smoke crisis
The haze has been linked to forest and peat fires across the border in Indonesia’s Kalimantan provinces. Smoke from such fires can travel across national borders, affecting Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines.
Authorities are carrying out cloud-seeding operations where atmospheric conditions allow. Residents in affected areas have been advised to limit outdoor activity, keep doors and windows closed where practical, use suitable masks when exposure cannot be avoided, and seek medical care if breathing problems develop.
Illustration: AI-generated, non-documentary editorial image depicting hazardous haze; Umma Media.
Reporting and verification: Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Office, Reuters and the Associated Press linked to the principal reports.
