Fact of Haze in Malaysia

The highest API recorded in Malaysia was 839 in Kuching, Sarawak on 23 September, 1997. During that period, the state of emergency due to haze issue had been imposed in Malaysia for the very first time.

The second time was on 11 August, 2005 at Post Klang and Kuala Selangor which the API reached dangerous levels.

Two days ago (24 June, 2013), API in Muar, Johor recorded the second highest (746) since September 1997 haze and was the state of emergency was imposed for the third time.

1. What is API?
Air Pollution Index (API) is a simple and generalized way to describe the air quality in China, Hong Kong and Malaysia. It is calculated from several sets of air pollution data.
2. Scale of API in Malaysia.

API	Air Pollution Level
0 - 50	Good
51 - 100	Moderate
101 - 200	Unhealthy
201 - 300	Very Unhealthy
301+	Hazardous

3. Defination of dangerous level.
Dangerous levels was defined as a value greater than 500 on API.
4. What is state of emergency?
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration which usually suspends a few normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviors, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans.
5. What action will be taken by the government once the state of emergency was declared?
When an emergency is declared, federal, state and district disaster management committees are required to take a number of actions. Such actions include advising government and private sector work places on closing their facilities; close schools in the disaster area; and increase awareness of the state of emergency through television and radio.

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