Sarawak is grappling with its worst transboundary haze episode since 2019, driven by forest fires in neighboring Indonesia, forcing school closures, flight disruptions, and a temporary state of emergency in the district of Serian. According to the Malaysia Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), deteriorating air quality across the Borneo state has severely restricted daily routines for residents and strained local healthcare facilities.
Emergency Declaration and Air Quality Index Readings in Serian
Air quality in the Serian district deteriorated rapidly on Friday, when its Air Pollutant Index (API) reading crossed the 500 threshold, prompting the Prime Minister’s Office to declare a haze-related state of emergency. According to data cited by regional outlets, Serian’s API reached 510 at 9:00 AM before climbing to 515 later that afternoon. Under Malaysia’s API framework, readings above 400 are categorized as very hazardous.
Following the emergency announcement, Sarawak Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas clarified that the emergency zone was strictly confined to a 20-kilometer radius within Serian as designated by the environment department, sparing other divisions from broad workplace closures. Conditions improved slightly by the following morning as the API dropped to 390 and subsequently fell to 287 by midday Saturday, allowing authorities to lift the emergency declaration as pollution levels receded from peak hazardous ranges.
School Closures and Disrupted Daily Life Across Sarawak
The severe pollution has forced widespread disruptions across multiple districts in Sarawak. Sarawak’s education director Omar Mahli announced that 647 schools across 12 districts—including Serian and the state capital Kuching—were ordered to close for five days beginning September 7, affecting a total of 563 primary schools and 84 secondary schools. Outdoor community events, athletic runs, and carnivals have faced cancellation, while reduced visibility has impacted regional flight schedules.
Local residents have reported feeling restricted and anxious as they limit outdoor exposure. Azie Nurazrin Aziz, a 39-year-old Kuching resident with asthma who is in her third trimester of pregnancy, told reporters that she has had to carefully divide her weekly clinic appointments to minimize time outside. Meanwhile, local pharmacies have experienced a surge in demand with face masks selling out, and clinics have reported an increase in patients seeking treatment for acute respiratory symptoms.
Regional Haze Comparisons and Historical Context
The current crisis marks the most severe air pollution event in Sarawak since 2019, when the state previously recorded an API reading of 405 during widespread regional peat and forest fires. Sarawak and Sabah share a land border with Indonesia on Borneo Island, making the states particularly vulnerable to transboundary smoke blown from agricultural and forest fires in Kalimantan. While authorities have confirmed that overall air quality has stepped back from hazardous levels in most areas, government agencies continue to monitor wind patterns and hotspot data across the border as haze risks persist.
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