No unhealthy API recorded in Sarawak this year, says SDMC

KUCHING: Sarawak has not recorded any unhealthy Air Pollution Index (API) this year.

Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said that from January to July, the API ranged from good to moderate in the state.

“Based on the briefings by the Natural Resources and Environmental Board (NREB), we had not recorded any unhealthy API.

“However, once the API reaches a score of 100, the standard operating procedure (SOP) on haze will be activated,” he said after chairing the SDMC meeting yesterday (July 31).

The Deputy Premier said the NREB has also frozen the permits for companies to conduct opening burning activities in the state after June this year.

Uggah urged the general public not to conduct any opening burning to avoid situations where the fire could rage out of control.

He also advised those in longhouses and villages facing drinking water shortage to report to their district or resident offices for assistance.

Also present at the meeting were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian and Deputy Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam.