Malaysia declares emergency over haze from Indonesian fires
Malaysia has declared a state of emergency in Serian, Sarawak, due to hazardous air pollution levels caused by forest and peat fires in Indonesia. Authorities are taking measures to suspend non-essential work and outdoor activities as the pollution index exceeds safety thresholds.
Why it matters
The recurring issue of transboundary haze poses significant public health risks and highlights the environmental challenges of agricultural land clearing in Southeast Asia.
--> On September 4, Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak state on the island of Borneo, due to critical air pollution caused by haze linked to fires in neighboring Indonesia. As Euronews reports , the air pollution index in Serian rose to 521, exceeding the country’s established emergency-level threshold.
Serian is an agricultural town with a population of just under 90,000, located near the border with Indonesia’s Kalimantan province. In Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, the pollution index reached 311, which is also a dangerous level.
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar approved the declaration of an emergency in Serian. The office of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said this would allow for more effective measures. According to officials, non-essential work and outdoor activities may be suspended when the index exceeds 500. Schools are closed if the index rises above 200.
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