Serian Council seeks Indonesian compensation for haze damage

The Serian Municipal Council has recommended that Indonesia provide compensation to the Sarawak government for damages caused by transboundary haze resulting from forest fires and land clearing in Kalimantan. Peter Minos, head of the council, stated that Sarawak suffers annually from this haze, which negatively impacts public health and the economy.

This year's haze has been described as particularly severe. In Serian, the air pollution index reached 201, entering the unhealthy category. Other areas in Sarawak, including Samarahan, Kuching, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Mukah, and Sibu, have also recorded unhealthy air quality levels. The council is seeking compensation for health issues, school closures, and losses in tourism revenue. In response to the poor air quality, schools in the Serian area have extended their temporary closures.