Malaysia Declares State of Emergency in Sarawak Due to Haze

Malaysia has declared a state of emergency in the Serian district of Sarawak after haze caused by wildfires in neighboring Indonesia increased air pollution to hazardous levels. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office stated that King Sultan Ibrahim consented to the emergency declaration due to air pollution levels that pose a risk to public health and safety. The declaration followed a formal request from the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee after the region’s Air Pollutant Index reached levels warranting consideration of a local emergency. Under the emergency order, 647 schools in Serian will close from Monday until at least the end of next week, along with government and private offices, plantations, construction sites, and quarries, while only essential services will continue to operate. Sarawak’s disaster management authorities announced that a three-day cloud-seeding operation initiated on Thursday would be extended to at least Monday, citing forecasts of more conducive cloud formations during that period. Douglas Uggah Embas, chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee, emphasized that the emergency applies only to Serian and urged residents to take the situation seriously, advising them to minimize outdoor activities and avoid strenuous activities outdoors. Sarawak has been heavily affected by haze for weeks, as have neighboring states of Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia. Other Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei, have reported smoggy conditions. Singapore announced it would begin providing daily haze advisories after air quality readings entered the unhealthy range, marking the first occurrence since 2023. The haze has also impacted the Philippines, where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of classes in Metro Manila and over a dozen provinces. This year's transboundary haze originates from fires burning across Indonesia, particularly in the Kalimantan region and Sumatra island, as part of a wider seasonal wildfire crisis. Scientists predict that temperatures may peak this month, potentially intensifying the fires by creating hotter and drier conditions across the region.