SERIAN: Residents are cutting back on outdoor activities while motorists are exercising greater caution as thick haze continues to blanket Serian.
The poor air quality has affected daily routines, from travelling and going to the market to tending farms, with some residents choosing to remain indoors unless necessary.
Motorists travelling through the area also reported noticeably poorer visibility upon reaching Serian, requiring them to slow down and pay closer attention to surrounding traffic.
Nickson Lunca, 73, who was travelling from Betong to Kuching for a wedding, said conditions became considerably worse after he entered Serian.
He estimated visibility at about 300 metres along some stretches of the journey.
“From Betong to Sri Aman, I could still see quite well although there was some haze, but once I entered Serian, the difference was obvious.
“Visibility was limited, so you really have to be more alert when driving. You worry about suddenly encountering another vehicle or something on the road,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
Another motorist, Ahmad Afiza Dol, 39, who frequently travels between Debak and Kuching, similarly described the haze between Kuching and Serian as particularly thick around Siburan and Serian.
He said motorists should exercise extra caution on the highway, particularly with vehicles travelling at higher speeds under reduced visibility.
Ahmad, who travels to Kuching about once a week, said the haze was also causing discomfort even while travelling inside an air-conditioned vehicle.
“Even with the air-conditioning on, I still felt short of breath and my eyes were irritated. The heat also makes it more uncomfortable. If possible, wear a face mask while travelling,” he said.
For Serian resident Johari Ahmad, 58, the haze has prompted him to adjust his daily routine, including reducing the time spent working on his farm.
He said he now tended to his farm only in the morning and limited unnecessary trips outside as conditions had worsened over the past two weeks.
“If possible, just stay at home because being outside is not only a concern for your health, but driving is also riskier when visibility is poor,” he said.
Johari, who has lived in Serian for about a year, also advised motorists travelling from other areas to be particularly careful when approaching the district.
Meanwhile, Serian’s Air Pollutant Index (API) stood at 515 as of 5:00 pm today (Sept 4), according to the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS).
The reading remained above the 500 mark, which falls under the emergency category.
Earlier, Serian Resident Mackos Sibong said community leaders had been informed of the haze situation, while precautionary reminders were being conveyed to residents through district officers in accordance with guidelines from the Serian Divisional Health Office.
In the latest development, His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, consented to the declaration of a local haze emergency covering the entire Serian Division.
The declaration followed joint advice and recommendations from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, together with technical assessments from the relevant disaster management and environmental agencies.
