State of Emergency Declared

A state of emergency has been declared in Kuala Selangor and Port Klang. The haze emergency takes effect immediately and will last indefinitely. However, the emergency does not involve a curfew. All work places are to remain closed except for essential services, food shops and supermarkets. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the emergency status was declared only for the two areas as the API had breached the 500 mark. He also issued a series of guidelines that had to be followed.

The guideline reads:

When the Haze Emergency has been declared, the State Management and Disaster Committee must take the following actions:

a) Issue an order for the closure of all government and private offices and other work places including factories, plantations, construction and quarries.

The closure order does not apply to:

i) shops that sell food stuff, drinks, markets and supermarkets;

ii) clinics, pharmacies and medicine shops; and

iii) essential services

b) Ensure that earthwork and earth movement are stopped

c) Advise the reduction of the use of private vehicles

d) Ensure the closure of all schools

e) Ensure the frequent dissemination of information of the pollution index to print and electronic media

f) Get the media to advise the public to remain at home and steps that needed to be taken by the people

g) Information Ministry must ensure that information are disseminate directly

h) Ensure strict enforcement against open burning

i) Ensure that this emergency declaration does not include declaration of curfew (except for certain situations as provided for under the appropriate laws.

So far, Penang has not been affected by the haze yet (Thank God!) and I hope it doesn't.