By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 4: The state of emergency declared in Serian Division over hazardous haze conditions is not a lockdown like the Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, with only workplaces in the affected area, including industries, plantations, construction sites and quarries, required to close.
Deputy Premier and Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said essential services such as supermarkets, petrol stations and banks would continue operating under the emergency measures.
“The emergency declaration would not be similar to the MCO imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is not a lockdown,” he said during a press conference at the SDMC operations room at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
He said the emergency was declared throughout Serian Division after worsening haze caused air pollution levels to reach a point deemed hazardous to public health and safety.
The Serian air quality monitoring station recorded an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 495 at 7am today before it exceeded 500 at 8am and subsequently reached 521 at 2pm.
Uggah said an API reading exceeding 500 placed Serian at highest alert category of Level 5A (Very Dangerous), under the National Haze Action Plan (NHAP).
He stressed that the emergency measures would be confined to the affected locality and would not extend to other divisions in Sarawak.
“The emergency area covered a 20-kilometre radius in Serian as identified by the Department of Environment (DOE),” he said.
Under the NHAP, government and private offices and other workplaces within the affected area, including industries, plantations, construction sites and quarries, are required to close, while essential services will remain available.
“The measure is aimed at protecting public health by encouraging people to remain indoors and minimising exposure to the hazardous air conditions.
“If the API goes down, then I think the emergency will be lifted,” he said.
He urged Serian residents to take the situation seriously by minimising outdoor and strenuous activities.
“Where outdoor exposure is unavoidable, wear an N95 mask, or at minimum a three-ply mask, and take particular care of children, senior citizens and those who are more vulnerable to the effects of haze,” he said.
Uggah also expressed hope that the public would comply with all directives issued during the emergency, stressing that its primary objective was to safeguard public health.
“SDMC will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates as necessary.
“We will continue to work closely with Nadma, the federal government and all relevant agencies to respond to this situation and protect our people. The health, safety and wellbeing of the people of Sarawak remain our highest priority,” he said.
The SDMC would continue monitoring API readings and air-quality trends in Serian and other affected areas, as well as weather conditions and haze movement based on forecasts from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
The committee would also coordinate public health and safety measures with relevant agencies, monitor hotspots and potential sources of haze, and coordinate with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), MetMalaysia, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) on cloud-seeding operations. — DayakDaily
