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Six areas in Sarawak recorded hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 8am today, 1 September, with Serian recording the highest reading at 408
According to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal, the five other areas in Sarawak with hazardous API readings were Kuching (407), Samarahan (372), Sri Aman (361), Sarikei (333), and Sibu (309).
Meanwhile, nine areas recorded unhealthy API readings, with ILP Miri recording the highest reading at 187, followed by Miri (180), Kapit (178), Labuan (167), and Limbang (166).
Kimanis and Keningau in Sabah both recorded readings of 156, while Tawau recorded 132 and Johan Setia in Selangor recorded 123.
Malaysia's air quality status as of 10am this morning, 1 September.
Image via Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS)Sarawak would only declare an emergency if API levels reach 500 or above
According to Malay Mail, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman, said there is currently no necessity to declare a state of emergency.
He said an emergency would only be considered if API levels reach 500 or above under the National Haze Action Plan.
However, even if the API breaches the 500 mark, SDMC would first escalate the matter to the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) in Kuala Lumpur, he told reporters during a press conference yesterday, 31 August. Uggah said the decision would have to be made by the federal government and could not be issued by the state government.
He added that if an emergency is declared, it would strictly apply to the affected locality rather than the entire state.
Under an emergency declaration, all public and private sector offices in the affected area would be required to close, with only essential services allowed to operate, he said
"We are closely monitoring the situation and hope it does not reach the 500 threshold, even though readings are currently nearing that level," he said.
Serian recorded an API reading of 475 at its highest point yesterday.
Uggah also said cloud seeding is expected to be carried out from 3 to 5 September to help ease the state's worsening haze and water shortage.
