Parents and members of the public have been urged to avoid outdoor physical activities during the school holidays as worsening transboundary haze pushes air quality in parts of Sarawak into hazardous levels.
Sarawak Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh said early precautions were particularly important for vulnerable groups, including children, senior citizens and people with chronic or respiratory conditions.
He said the public should take extra care as Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in some areas had climbed to between 300 and 400, which is classified as hazardous.
“This advice is not only for children, but for all of us, especially now that the Air Pollutant Index (API) has reached 300 to 400, which is at hazardous levels. We advise everyone to be cautious and also wear masks, especially those in high-risk groups,” he said.
Len Talif, who is also Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) deputy chairman, advised high-risk individuals and the elderly to reduce their time outdoors and take appropriate measures, including wearing masks, to minimise exposure to polluted air.
The public has also been reminded to monitor official announcements and daily API readings, particularly as haze conditions can change quickly depending on weather and wind patterns.
According to Len Talif, the worsening air quality was linked to hotspots in Kalimantan and prevailing dry weather. The dry conditions are expected to continue until the end of the year, keeping Sarawak on alert.
He said the state government was also preparing to conduct cloud seeding operations in early September as part of efforts to address the haze situation.
“We are still assessing whether the process needs to be expedited by taking into account the current impact of the haze,” he said.
The deteriorating conditions were reflected in the latest API readings, with several locations in Sarawak recording hazardous levels as of 12.30pm today.
Data from the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) showed Serian recording the highest reading at 412 at the district police headquarters monitoring station.
Samarahan followed with an API reading of 332, while Kuching recorded 304, all falling within the hazardous category.
Sri Aman also recorded a very unhealthy API reading of 228.
With school holidays underway, authorities are urging families to limit unnecessary outdoor exposure and remain attentive to changes in air quality to reduce potential health risks from the haze.
