Malaysia Declares State Of Emergency As Smoke Closes Schools & Business

[hatrack]

Malaysia declared a state of emergency in towns on its west coast Thursday as smoke from forest fires raging in Indonesia smothered parts of the country, pushing pollution levels dangerously high. The choking smog has blanketed the capital Kuala Lumpur and other parts of peninsular Malaysia for more than week, disrupting airports and shipping, angering citizens and raising fears over public health.

"I now declare a state of emergency for the whole area of Kuala Selangor and Port Klang with immediate effect indefinitely," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a statement. Under the measures all workplaces are to remain closed except for essential services, food shops and supermarkets. Schools are to close and citizens are advised to stay at home if possible.

Abdullah acted after the air pollution index (API) reached 529 in Port Klang, a major shipping centre, and 531 in Kuala Selangor. An API above 300 is considered hazardous and 500 triggers a state of emergency.

In Kuala Lumpur the index reached 321, shrouding the city in a yellowish mist and making the tops of buildings disappear. The prime minister said he hoped no other areas would hit the 500 mark but if they did they would automatically be declared to be under a state of emergency.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/2005/050811113857.uxt4e832.html

[Eugene]

1. "pray for rain"

BBC: Malaysians told to pray for rain

<snip>
Jakarta has been urged to do more to stop the fires on the island of
Sumatra which cause the pollution.

On Thursday, ministers from both countries agreed a three-point plan
under which Malaysia will help to put out thousands of fires sweeping
across Sumatra.

Smell of smoke

Further talks are expected on Friday but there is no word on when
Indonesia will move to stop farmers on the island slashing and burning
forests.

So Malaysia's Mr Abdullah has asked Muslims to use their Friday prayers
to ask for divine intervention, preferably in the shape of rain.
<snip>

[hatrack]

2. How about "don't burn down the forests?"

No, that would be too logical and simple. Better by far to appeal to a vaporous putative deity to shield us from the consequences of our actions. :eyes:

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Update (Reuters/Friday): Malaysia takes a breather as haze crisis eases

From Reuters
Dated Friday August 12

Malaysia takes a breather as haze crisis eases
By Bazuki Muhammad and Ade Rina

Malaysia got a short breathing space on Friday from its worst air pollution crisis in eight years as changing winds scattered acrid smoke from forest fires burning in neighbouring Indonesia.

The skies cleared over downtown Kuala Lumpur's iconic Petronas Towers and palm trees shivered in breezes that carried away some of the haze that has shrouded the city for a week, although weather officials warned the respite might be brief.

"We do believe there will be a temporary relief," said Wong Teck Kiong of the Malaysian Meteorological Service.

Rain promised to bring more relief over the weekend, as the wind carried the haze away from central Malaysia towards the country's eastern states of Trengganu and Kelantan, where visibility had fallen sharply, he said.

Read more.

This sounds more like a respite than an easing.