Haze Emergency Meant To Protect Public Health, Says PM

PETALING JAYA, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Friday, the government had to declare a haze emergency in Kuala Selangor and Port Klang, as the air pollution in the two areas were serious and hazardous to health.
He said public interest, particularly the effects of the haze on the general health of the people, was the key factor that prompted the government to impose a haze emergency on the two areas Thursday.
He said it was the government's responsibility to protect the people especially when the Air Pollutant Index (API) had reached a level that could be detrimental to health.
"We have to decide and impose, for example emergency procedures, in areas very badly affected. We just cannot let the haze worsen and do nothing. The people's health is our primary concern," he told reporters after launching the Malaysian International Aerospace Centre at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, in Subang.
Abdullah was asked if imposing emergency on the affected areas would create difficulty to businesses.
Thursday, the Prime Minister declared a haze emergency on all areas in Port Klang and Kuala Selangor after the API readings there had exceeded 500, a level that is classified as hazardous to health.
According to API readings issued by the Department of Environment (DOE) as at 11 am Friday, the haze situation in the two areas had improved, with the level below 400.
Friday, Abdullah reiterated his statement that areas under API above 500 would be automatically declared as under haze emergency.
"I have directed the National Security Division and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to determine the measures to be taken on an automatic basis. We have the automatic mechanism. If API surges above 500, then the area will be a (haze) emergency area," he said.