KUALA BERANG: The government is ready to propose declaring an emergency for areas that record an Air Pollution Index (API) reading of more than 400, says Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup (pic).
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said the measure could be considered if the Air Pollutant Index reached a critical level – such as in Serian, Sarawak, where readings surpassed 500 and prompted an emergency declaration.
“If it (API) exceeds 400, declaring an emergency can be considered,” he told reporters after an event at Dataran Kampung Basong, Bernama reported.
Currently, under the National Haze Action Plan, a haze emergency may be declared when the API reaches 500 or higher.
The Department of Environment classifies API readings of between 301 and 500 as hazardous, while readings above 500 are categorised as an emergency.
Arthur said the declaration of emergency in Serian would remain in effect until the API readings showed a drop to a safer level, with safety measures to be taken during that period such as school closures and the wearing of face masks.
On Friday, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, declared an emergency in the entire Serian Division in Sarawak, following haze conditions that had reached levels of air pollution that were hazardous to the health and safety of the public.
In a related development, the minister said cloud seeding operations carried out in Sarawak and the northern peninsula, namely in Kedah and Perlis, on Friday showed positive results, with several areas recording rain.
He said Malaysia had also received written permission from Indonesia, allowing the country’s air assets to enter the republic’s airspace for the purpose of cloud seeding operations.
“Sometimes for wider operations, our air assets need to cross the border to ‘shoot’ at the clouds, and the wind will bring the clouds to our country.”
Arthur also stated that Malaysia had offered both assets and manpower to assist in extinguishing the open fires currently occurring in Indonesia. However, there has been no official request from the republic so far, he said.
