Malaysia lifts emergency declaration in Sarawak district as haze eases, but health risks remain

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has lifted an emergency declaration due to fire haze in the district of Serian in Sarawak state after air quality readings dropped back below hazardous levels, but health risks remain, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Sept 7.Malaysia had declared the emergency on Sept 4 after thick haze caused by fires in the Indonesian part of Borneo island pushed air pollution up to hazardous levels. Sarawak has been heavily affected by fires in Indonesia’s Kalimantan, with the haze forcing school closures in some parts of the state.The Malaysian authorities categorise Air Pollution Index (API) readings above 300 as hazardous, with a measurement of 500 the threshold for declaring an emergency.The API in Serian was at 222 on Sept 7, having hit 519 on Sept 4, environment department data showed.The King, Sultan Ibrahim, gave his consent to end the state of emergency based on advice from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg, as well as reports from government agencies showing that air quality readings in Serian were no longer at a hazardous level, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.The PMO cautioned that the haze situation has not fully recovered, as air quality readings in several areas, particularly Serian and Samarahan districts, remain at very unhealthy levels.“The Federal government and the Sarawak state government will continue to closely monitor the situation, and residents in affected areas are advised to limit outdoor activities and to always comply with instructions from the authorities,” it said. REUTERS