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🇸🇬 Singapore /Environment & Climate

‘Worried’ and ‘confused’: Sarawakians face their worst haze since 2019

From CNA · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Sarawak is experiencing Malaysia’s worst haze episode since 2019, with the air pollutant index exceeding 500 in Serian and prompting a state of emergency.
  • Authorities will close 647 schools across 12 districts for five days, while poor visibility has disrupted flights and cancelled outdoor events.
  • Residents, businesses and clinics report major disruption, including respiratory illness, falling takings and shortages of face masks.

For Azie Nurazrin Aziz, the haze has made ordinary life feel restricted. The 39-year-old Kuching resident is in her third trimester, has asthma and doctors have classified her pregnancy as high-risk. She attends up to three clinic and hospital appointments a week while running her own restaurant, but now divides her errands to reduce her time outdoors.

“I have to divide my errands so I am not too exposed outside, it’s suffocating,” Azie told CNA. “I am worried, I am anxious, what if I get an asthma attack? It’s quite dangerous for me, I have to be really careful.”

I have to divide my errands so I am not too exposed outside, it’s suffocating.

· Azie Nurazrin AzizA pregnant Kuching resident with asthma described how the haze has changed her daily routine.

Sarawak has been the worst-hit Malaysian state in the transboundary haze linked to forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia. The state, along with Sabah, shares a land border with Indonesia on Borneo. Serian became the first district to declare a haze-related state of emergency this year after its Air Pollutant Index exceeded 500. Under Malaysia’s scale, readings above 400 are considered very hazardous.

I am worried, I am anxious, what if I get an asthma attack? It’s quite dangerous for me, I have to be really careful.

· Azie Nurazrin AzizShe explained her concerns about the health risks posed by the deteriorating air quality.

The Malaysia Meteorological Department told CNA that this is Sarawak’s worst haze episode since 2019, when the index reached 405. The worsening air has disrupted daily life across the state. Carnivals, community runs and sporting events have been cancelled, while poor visibility has affected some flights.

Authorities said 647 schools in 12 districts, including Serian and Kuching, will close from September 7 to September 11. The total includes 563 primary and 84 secondary schools. Sarawak’s education director Omar Mahli said monitoring during the school holiday showed that the haze situation had “clearly not changed much.” Businesses report lower takings as residents spend less time outside, clinics have seen a sharp rise in respiratory patients and many pharmacies have run out of masks. Some residents say the disruption has brought back memories of the COVID-19 pandemic, as they again limit outdoor activities and remain uncertain about how long the haze will last.

Clearly not changed much.

· Omar MahliSarawak’s education director described the haze situation during the school holiday when explaining the school closures.
About this summary

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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