KUALA LUMPUR - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has declared emergency in Muar and Ledang districts with immediate effect after API readings in the two areas surpassed the 750 mark.
Bernama reported PM as saying: "This haze emergency declaration does not involve imposition of a curfew and also there is no change in the method of administration either at the state or federal level for now."
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G Palanivel earlier this morning had said Muar recorded the highest with 750, followed by Bukit Rambai, Malacca (357) and Malacca City with (364).
The highest API ever recorded in Malaysia was in Sarawak in 1997 with reading of 860.
Palanivel said Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN) should do cloud seeding operations immediately.
Director-General of Environment Dato Halimah Hassan had asked the MKN director to declare emergency in Muar today.
MKN will issue instructions for residents to stay indoors and direct schools in several states to remain closed.
API readings as at 8am today (23/06/13) are Pasir Gudang (123), Kemaman (140), Klang (189), Balok Baru, Kuantan (137), Petaling Jaya (111), Johor Baru (114), Shah Alam (104), Port Dickson (168), Kota Tinggi (137), Banting (110), Bukit Rambai, Malacca (357), Malacca City (364), Muar (750).
Based on the air quality index, reading of between 0-50 is categorised as good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy), and 300 and above hazardous.
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