By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Aug 21: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has hit back at claims that Sarawak is downplaying the haze, stressing that the State government would never compromise the safety of Sarawakians and urging the public to rely on official Air Pollution Index (API) readings.
Uggah, who is also Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman, said several parties had published different API readings from the official figures yesterday.
“There are several parties publishing different API readings from the official API. That is very unfortunate because we do not know their sources. So, my advice to the public is to follow the Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) and Department of Environment (DOE),” he said when met by the media after officiating the opening ceremony of the Borneo Animation and Games Festival (BAGFEST) 2026 at Pullman Hotel here today where he represented Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Uggah said some parties had accused the State government of underplaying the figures, which he strongly denied.
“We are not. We would never play with the lives of Sarawakians. That is why schools were closed as soon as we reached 200 yesterday,” he said.
He urged the public to study API readings carefully before believing or reacting to figures circulating from unverified sources, adding that the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) website also provides API readings.
He said the public could check the Kuching reading through the ASMC website, where the figure should correspond with Sarawak’s official reading.
Additionally, Uggah urged the public to take precautions during the haze, including wearing masks and avoiding excessive outdoor exercise. — DayakDaily
