The Malaysian government declared a haze emergency late Thursday for two areas in the state of Selangor, Malaysia's official news agency Bernama said Thursday.

"Haze emergency has been declared indefinitely for the entire Kuala Selangor and Port Klang areas with immediate effect," it said.

The Air Pollutant Index (API) in several areas in Klang Valley have worsened markedly earlier Thursday with readings above 500, classified as "hazardous" to health.

Malaysian Health Minister Chua Soi Lek said earlier Thursday that at 6 a.m. Thursday, Port Klang recorded an API reading of 534 while in Kuala Selangor, the level had hit 510.

The decision on whether to declare an emergency, would be made by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as Chairman of the National Disaster and Relief Management Committee, he added.

API readings are categorised thus: 0-50 classified as good; 51- 100 moderate; 101-200 unhealthy; 201-300 very unhealthy and above 300 considered hazardous.

Under a state of haze emergency, the National Security Division of the Prime Minister's Department is expected to take several measures. Included are all government offices and private sector including factories, buildings and quarries to close except shops selling foodstuffs and beverages at supermarkets, clinics, pharmacies, medicine shops and other vital services; stopping earthworks immediately; using lesser private vehicles; and immediately banning on all open burning.

The working group under the National Disaster and Relief Management Committee will be mobilized immediately, and operate for 24 hours at the National Security division of the Prime Minister's Department.

However, the haze emergency does not involve curfews and restriction in people's movement or the hand-over of power to the police or military.

Source: Xinhua