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Indonesia steps up ASEAN haze coordination as fires spread; emergency in Sarawak's Serian
Indonesia says it is enhancing regional coordination through ASEAN mechanisms to address transboundary haze from forest and land fires spreading across Southeast Asia. The haze has led to a state of emergency in Serian, Sarawak, where the Air Pollution Index exceeded 500, while other areas in the state recorded hazardous or very unhealthy air quality.
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Serian Air Pollutant Index drops to 390, still hazardous
The Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Serian, Sarawak, dropped to 390 as of 7am, but remains in the hazardous category. Yesterday, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong declared a state of emergency for the entire Serian Division after readings exceeded 500. Three other locations in Sarawak recorded very unhealthy readings.
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JAS raises air monitoring to highest level as Serian API hits 477
The Department of Environment (JAS) has stepped up air quality monitoring to the highest level after a state of emergency was declared in Serian, Sarawak, following an API reading of 477. Three other areas in Sarawak also recorded very unhealthy API levels, while 18 areas nationwide were unhealthy. JAS is strengthening its open burning prevention operations and will take strict action against sources of pollution.
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Serian's API drops below 500 after haze emergency declared
Serian, Sarawak's air pollutant index reading has improved slightly after an emergency was declared due to hazardous haze, dropping from a peak of 521 to 488. The emergency declaration was announced by the Prime Minister's Office after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's consent. Other areas in Sarawak, including Kuching, Samarahan, and Sri Aman, also recorded very unhealthy air quality.
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Deputy minister urges Sarawak youth to seize leadership opportunities
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Rubiah Wang, encouraged Sarawak's youth to step forward and take a more active role in leadership. She spoke at the closing ceremony of the Sarawak State Leadership Skills Course at the Rural Development Institute (INFRA) Auditorium in Kota Samarahan. The course was attended by 34 participants from higher education institutions around Kuching and Samarahan as well as registered youth clubs.
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Indonesia sends 14,000 firefighters to battle Borneo wildfires as haze hits hazardous levels
Indonesia has deployed over 14,000 firefighters to combat wildfires in West Kalimantan, where air quality has reached hazardous levels. The haze has drifted to Malaysia, prompting an emergency declaration in Sarawak's Serian division and the closure of 647 schools.
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Sarawak haze emergency not a lockdown, essential services to continue, says Uggah
Sarawak's disaster management chief, Douglas Uggah, clarified that the state's haze emergency declaration is not a COVID-19-style lockdown. The measure aims to keep people indoors for health reasons, with essential services like supermarkets, petrol stations, and banks remaining open. The declaration was proposed after the Air Pollutant Index in Serian exceeded 500, and will only affect affected areas, not the entire state.
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N95 masks run out in Serian as haze persists, pharmacy and petrol station workers report high demand
In Serian, Sarawak, N95 face masks have sold out at a local pharmacy as residents cope with persistent haze. A pharmacy assistant said stock has been exhausted since last Saturday, with high demand for cough medicine, eye drops, and inhalers. A petrol station worker reported that staff are required to wear masks outdoors, and many motorists are also wearing them.
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Sarawak's Serian under emergency as air pollutant index hits 515
A state of emergency has been declared in Sarawak's Serian district after its Air Pollutant Index reading exceeded 500, reaching 515 by 5pm on Friday. The Malaysian King consented to the declaration following advice from the prime minister and the Sarawak premier due to hazardous haze conditions. Serian, about 60km from Kuching, has been the worst-hit district, with other areas like Kuching, Samarahan, and Sri Aman also recording very unhealthy to hazardous readings.
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Serian API exceeds 500, Sarawak awaits federal decision on haze emergency
Sarawak is waiting for the National Disaster Management Agency to decide on declaring a haze emergency in Serian after the Air Pollutant Index there surpassed 500, reaching 521. State Disaster Management Committee chairman Douglas Uggah said the proposal has been sent to the Prime Minister, and an emergency declaration would close non-essential workplaces in the affected area.
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PM Anwar to discuss possible disaster emergency with Sarawak govt over Serian haze
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said further action, including declaring a disaster emergency, will be discussed with the Sarawak government after an Air Pollutant Index reading exceeded 500 in Serian. He has contacted Sarawak Premier Abang Johari to discuss the matter and assured that safety measures would be implemented if an emergency is declared. Air quality in Serian remained hazardous with an API reading of 518, while Kuching recorded 310.
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PM: Serian office, school closures possible if emergency declared as API tops 500
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said further action following the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading exceeding 500 in Serian will be discussed with the Sarawak government. He has contacted Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg and assured that safety measures, including stopping office and school operations, will be taken if an emergency is declared. The API at the Serian police station reached 519, while Kuching recorded a hazardous reading of 310.
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Serian's air quality hits hazardous 517, nearing emergency threshold
The air pollutant index (API) reading in Serian, Sarawak, reached a hazardous 517 as of 10.45am, surpassing the 500-mark that triggers a haze emergency declaration. Readings in nearby Kuching, Samarahan, and Sri Aman also remained at unhealthy to hazardous levels.
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El Nino, dry conditions, haze expected to persist in stages until May next year - Expert
Experts warn that El Nino will prolong dry conditions and haze in stages until May next year, with fires expected to shift from Indonesia to northern Sarawak and Sabah. Current air quality readings show hazardous levels in Serian, Sarawak, and very unhealthy levels in Kuching, Sri Aman, and Samarahan.
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Indonesia's cloud-seeding efforts to fight fires hit by lack of clouds; haze reaches hazardous levels in Sarawak
Indonesia's weather modification operations to combat forest fires are constrained by a lack of suitable clouds in Kalimantan and Sumatra. The resulting haze has severely impacted Sarawak, with Serian recording a hazardous API reading of 345, prompting the state to launch its own cloud-seeding operations.
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Stroke leaves family struggling for survival
A family in Kampung Engkeroh, Serian, Sarawak, is receiving aid from Hope Place Kuching after the sole breadwinner, Stanley Sandoi, suffered a debilitating stroke. The family struggles financially as Stanley requires care and his eldest daughter, who is disabled, is the only current income earner. Hope Place provides food and adult diapers, and Stanley's social welfare aid application has been approved.
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Bank manager jailed, fined RM40M for money laundering, cheating
A former bank relationship manager in Kuching was sentenced to seven years in jail and fined RM40 million after pleading guilty to 24 charges of cheating and money laundering involving over RM1.5 million.
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Fatimah: Stronger childcare support key to keeping Sarawak women in workforce
Sarawak Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said stronger childcare support can help women stay in the workforce. She was speaking at the 'Sarawak Women @ Work' programme in Kota Samarahan, citing 2024 statistics showing Sarawak's female labour force participation at 52.7 per cent compared to 85.4 per cent for men.
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Simunjan peatland fire: Two hectares extinguished, 1.5 ha still burning
Firefighters in Simunjan, Sarawak, have extinguished two hectares of a peatland fire at Kampung Lubok Punggor, with 1.5 hectares still burning on the third day. The fire, which started on August 31, has affected 3.5 hectares and is being fought with limited water sources.
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Informal sector affects women's participation rate
Sarawak's Minister for Women, Children and Community Wellbeing, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, said the informal sector contributes to the gap in women's labour force participation compared to men. She spoke at the Sarawak Women @ Work Samarahan Division launch at the Sarawak Farmers' Organisation Hall, where financial aid was given to 15 women household heads.
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St Augustine's Parish Mambong to hold annual sale
St Augustine's Parish Mambong in Kuching, Sarawak will hold its annual sale on Sept 5 at the Kampung Mambong community hall to raise funds for parish development projects. The event will feature a lucky draw and karaoke session.
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Sarawak haze eases as hazardous API readings drop to two stations
Haze conditions in Sarawak are improving, with the number of monitoring stations recording hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) readings falling to two as of 9am. Kuching and Serian remain hazardous, while several other areas in the state have moved into the 'very unhealthy' category. Air quality in some areas outside Sarawak, including Selangor and Sabah, has deteriorated.
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Haze hits hazardous levels: What you need to know
Haze has pushed air pollution to hazardous levels in five locations in Sarawak, with Serian recording the highest API reading of 351. The article explains the health risks of PM2.5 particles and offers advice on protecting oneself, including avoiding outdoor activities and wearing N95 masks.
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Critically low water reserves in haze-hit Sarawak due to prolonged dry spell
A prolonged dry spell has caused critically low water reserves at the Simunjan water treatment plant in Sarawak, with reservoir levels dropping to less than a metre. The state is implementing water rationing and tanker deliveries to affected areas, and cloud seeding is planned to replenish reserves.