KUCHING: The declaration of an emergency due to the haze situation will only be implemented in specific areas if the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading reaches 500, and will not involve the whole of Sarawak.

Sarawak Deputy Premier, who is also the Chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, said this is in accordance with the haze disaster management guidelines in Malaysia.

He mentioned that the matter would be conveyed to the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) in Kuala Lumpur for further action based on NADMA Directive No. 1.

“If Serian, for example, reaches 500, that means we will inform Kuala Lumpur that an emergency needs to be enforced in that area only, not the whole of Sarawak.

“When an emergency is enforced, all offices, both public and private sectors, will close. Of course, if there are schools, schools will also close. Only essential services will be allowed to operate,” he said during a press conference on the haze situation at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, here on Monday.

Datuk Amar Douglas noted that SDMC is continuously monitoring the development of API readings across Sarawak to ensure appropriate actions can be taken should the situation worsen.

He also clarified that the emergency declaration will not involve any movement restrictions. — UKASnews

Prepared by: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photos: Ibanez Jeffery
Translator: Ryan Lim