State of Emergency?

[Ski]

Hi
Just got this from BBC : can anyone confirm this please.?

Malaysia haze triggers emergency

Hospitals are inundated because of the haze
Malaysia has declared a state of emergency after air pollution in parts of the country reached danger levels.
Smoke from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia has pushed an air pollution index over an emergency mark of 500.

A reading above 500 is judged extremely hazardous, and the haze has already prompted the closure of some schools.

Malaysian and Indonesian officials are to meet to discuss the fires, mainly caused by illegal land clearance on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

The readings over 500 have only been detected in the western towns of Port Klang and Kuala Selangor.

MALAYSIA AIR QUALITY
0-50: good
51-100: moderate
101-200: unhealthy
201-300: very unhealthy
301-500: hazardous

However, government officials said the state of emergency would extend inland to the entire Klang valley, covering the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Schools in Kuala Lumpur have already been ordered to close because of worsening pollution.

Fighting fire

The BBC's Malaysia correspondent, Jonathan Kent, says the acrid smog that has enveloped Kuala Lumpur and cities nearby shows no sign of lifting.


On Wednesday, Malaysia's government said that an air pollution reading of over 500 would automatically prompt the declaration of a state of emergency.

That in turn could prompt the government to order the closure of all non-essential government and private workplaces.

With stock markets falling and hospitals inundated with people complaining of eye, throat and chest problems, Malaysia is offering Indonesia help to put out the fires that are causing the problem.

The two countries' leaders spoke on Wednesday, and ministers and are due to meet on Sumatra, where some 300 hot spots are being monitored.

Malaysian officials would say only that there is a definite willingness to co-operate.

Authorities in Kuala Lumpur and parts of the state of Selangor have decided to close schools in the worst affected areas for two days.

Students in schools that remain open are being told to stay in their classrooms, drink warm water and wear masks if they have to venture outdoors.

Our correspondent says there is no silver lining to this smog for those students who been told to stay at home.

They will have to make up for missed lessons on Saturdays once the pollution has eased.

[jand]

heard from a friend that RTM will be announcing something. Keep an eye/ear out.

[Ski]

So can we all go home!!! Why only schools closed ..we have no lungs or what?

[jand]

no, so sorry, no.

You will have to stay in whatever building you're in. The Army will deploy to secure crucial city areas, the Navy will deploy around the waters surrounding M'sia and the Air Force will enforce a no-fly zone in M'sian airspace.

oh, so sorry, that's for martial law, not emergency. again, so sorry.

Please proceed to the nearest clinic and obtain an MC from the doctor and proceed home.

so sorry.

[jand]

just a little morbid thought: how's the health of our national grid?

with everyone now turning the a/c on, what if crap really hits the roof and the grid trips and we're experiencing peninsula-wide blackout. No electricty, no water and worse of all, NO INTERNET ACCESS!!

no access to information is bad news. Do we have local centres to disseminate? all gather at MPSJ?

[bslee]

I'd rate those responsible for the open burning & haze no less than criminal drug distributors who deserve to be penalized to the maximum! and I'd hate them more if I hear there are ANY thoughtless Malaysians behind it all!.

[Ski]

"We are now in a state of emergency," says a National Security Council official got this from Malaysiakini..this is very serious man.

[ksj_cool]

only KLang and Kuala Selangor declared emergency ..

[fRaNkY]

Subang and KL tak da ka? ... it is as bad. Cant even see RTM from Kerinchi LRT!

[gtl]

unable to get into any gomen website to get a confirmation. pls guide me............

[SunwayKid]

What does a state of emergency mean ? Do we stop going to work, stock up on food or what ? Declaring state of emergency but don't say what it is all about is of no use. Bernama just issue a three liner.

I already declare state of emergency since Monday - to me, that means stay at home, close all windows and doors, full blast the purifiers and get out the dvds!

[SunwayKid]

One more thing, on your fan at full blasts - point it at Sumatra direction.

[Ski]

We need International help to douce the fires before its becomes critical
and catastrophic..Both governments should get outside help if they cant do it by themselves.

[jand]

this is like bloody bonkers, man.
only kuala selangor and port klang? out on the street less than 10m away, i can hardly differentiate the exhaust fumes from a diesel powered lorry from the surrounding air.

If the air is as dense as the exhaust fumes, isn't it dangerous already?

[uchangeng]

Mass Evacuation out of KL.!? Anyone thought of this yet?