PETALING JAYA: A state of emergency has been declared in Serian, Sarawak, due to the worsening haze situation there.
The Prime Minister’s Office said His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has consented to the declaration of the emergency.
“The decision was made after taking into account the advice of the Prime Minister and Premier of Sarawak, alongside related agencies, regarding air quality in the affected area,” the PMO said in a statement.
It added that more effective measures will be taken to protect the health and welfare of affected residents.
“The government will continue monitoring the situation and ensure all necessary measures are taken immediately.
“These include mitigation measures as well as the dissemination of information and health advisories to the public,” it said.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas said the declaration of the haze emergency in Serian is meant to protect public health, with only essential services allowed to operate.
He said the emergency is confined to Serian, where the air pollutant index (API) exceeded the very hazardous level of 500 yesterday.
“This emergency is not a lockdown like the movement control order during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is with the intention of keeping the public at home,” he told reporters after chairing a Sarawak Disaster Management Committee meeting.
He said all government and private sector offices and other workplaces will be closed except for essential services such as supermarkets, petrol stations, banks and security forces.
“We hope that when the emergency is implemented, the public in Serian will comply with it. Please take it seriously and look after your health,” he said.
He added that Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg conveyed the state’s request for an emergency declaration to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when the API in Serian reached 521 at 2pm yesterday.
He said this was in accordance with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) Directive No. 1, which stipulates the declaration of a haze emergency by the federal government with consent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The emergency will remain in place until the API drops below 500, with the federal government to lift the emergency declaration.
Meanwhile, the state Education Department said schools in 12 districts will remain closed next week in view of hazy conditions.
It said the temporary closure from Sept 7 to 11 affects 563 primary schools involving 108,477 pupils and 84 secondary schools with a total of 90,082 students in Kuching, Padawan, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Simunjan, Serian, Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Kanowit, Julau and Meradong.
“Home-based teaching and learning will be implemented during the closure,” it said in a statement.
