Sarawak wants emergency declared in Serian after API hits 519

The API in Serian breached the hazardous threshold of 500 today, driven by transboundary haze from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak government wants the federal government to declare a disaster emergency in Serian in light of the haze that has caused the air pollutant index (API) there to reach 519 as of 3.55pm.Sarawak deputy premier Douglas Uggah Embas said premier Abang Johari Openg is in touch with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the matter.He said only Putrajaya can declare an emergency as the order must be signed off by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.“We hope the public will comply once the emergency is declared. The main goal is to ensure their health is protected,” Uggah said at a press conference.Uggah previously said a haze emergency would be declared at the district level if an area’s API reached 500.Upon the declaration of a disaster emergency, all government and private-sector offices and workplaces will be closed, except essential services.In a Bernama report, Anwar said appropriate safety measures, including the suspension of office and school operations, would be implemented should an emergency be declared because of worsening API readings.“We will take all necessary measures, whether cloud seeding or other actions.“Even though this (haze) is the result of developments elsewhere, we have to bear the consequences and be patient for a while.“I pray for the safety of the people in Serian, across Sarawak, and in other affected areas,” he told reporters after Friday prayers at Masjid Bukit Indah in Ampang Jaya.A haze emergency was declared in Kuching in September 1997 when an API reading of 650 was recorded.

Sarawak deputy premier Douglas Uggah Embas said the state government’s goal is to protect the health of residents.