Worsening haze: Schools closed in 4 states, KL

Schools will be closed tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Malacca while Pahang and Johor have ordered shut down in affected districts only.

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KUALA LUMPUR: Schools will be closed tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malacca, and in parts of Johor and Pahang as the haze situation worsened this evening.

The 5pm Air Pollutant Index (API) reading showed that the situation was not healthy for children to be outdoors.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister G Palanivel said all schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor will be closed tomorrow, and that the Education Ministry would be taking the necessary follow-up actions.

Palanivel added that schools in KL and Selangor have been ordered to be closed due to health reasons. He also advised parents to keep their children indoors.

Earlier, the Malacca state government too had declared that all schools in the state would be closed tomorrow. Likewise, the Pahang state government and Johor state government had ordered the closure of schools in districts enveloped by thick haze.

Hazardous level in Malacca

In MALACCA, the state government has instructed all 313 primary and secondary schools plus all pre-schools, including Tadika Perpaduan, Kemas, to be closed starting tomorrow due to the haze.

Chief Minister Idris Haron said the Air Pollutant Index (API) in Malacca town had reached the hazardous level of 397 while Bukit Rambai recorded 456 as of 2pm, today.

“We were directed by the Education Ministry to close all schools and remain closed until further notice and I hope our children will not be allowed to leave the house as it may be detrimental to their health,” he said after officiating the Urban Transformation Centre’s (UTC) first anniversary, here, today.

He added that government agencies and departments were reminded to be cautious and to always use face masks.

Idris added that 25,000 face masks were distributed through the Malacca Education Department after receiving the consignment.

Meanwhile, in KUANTAN, Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob ordered schools in the district and areas badly affected by the haze to close starting tomorrow.

“Looking at the situation (haze) today, it’s bad…visibility is low and it’s hard to breathe.

“It’s dangerous for our children to go to school tomorrow,” he said after the launch of the Sultan Ahmad Shah International Convention Centre, Zenith Hotel and Menara Zenith Putra Square, here, today.

Johor swings into action too

In JOHOR BAHARU, the Johor Disaster Management and Relief Committee has imposed six immediate measures following the declaration of a haze emergency for the districts of Muar and Ledang.

Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin in his Facebook posting today said the steps were:

Issuing closure orders on all offices whether government or private and other workplaces including factories, estates, construction sites and quarries.

• Ensure all schools are closed

• Restrict use of private vehicles

• Stop all land clearing and transfer of earth

• Ensure timely updates on the air quality situation (Air Pollutants Index) to the mass media

• Enforce ban on open burning

However, the closure order does not include:

• Shops selling food items and drinks, markets and supermarkets

• Clinic, pharmacies and medicine shops

• Essential services

Airports remain open for now

In KUALA LUMPUR, the operations at all airports managed by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) throughout the country are going on as usual despite the haze, said its Operations senior general manager, Azmi Murad.

He said the operations continued because the visibility distance currently was about one kilometre, which was still safe.

“If the visibility distance is less than 300 metres, the Department of Civil Aviation will order the runways to be closed, he said when contacted, here, today.

Azmi said MAHB, however, would continue monitoring the situation to ensure that everything went on smoothly.

Among the airports managed by MAHB are the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Kuching International Airport, Langkawi International Airport, Penang International Airport, Melaka Airport, Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport (Pahang) and Sultan Mahmud Airport (Terengganu).

Senai Airport customer services officer Akilah Hassan, when contacted said the airport’s operations were going on as usual although a haze emergency situation had been declared in Muar and Ledang.

The Senai Airport in Johor is managed Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd.

Health Minister: Stay indoors
In another development, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam advises residents in Muar and Ledang in Johor to follow all directives from the authorities following the declaration of a haze emergency for the two districts today.

He said the two districts were facing the worst haze crisis to date and as such it was important to follow the directives to mitigate health risks.

“I urge the people in the two districts to stay at home. Do not go out as it will be hazardous to your health.

“The air quality is affected by various toxic substances besides dust and particles, which if inhaled can cause difficulties particularly to those having respiratory problems,” he told reporters after attending an appreciation ceremony for Health Ministry staff involved in the Ops Daulat in Lahad Datu, today.

Subramaniam said the residents in the two disricts should only go out of their homes only if there was an emergency and that those whose homes had air conditioners to put them on recyling mode.

He added that all government health facilities had been alerted to provide all necessary assistance in facing the haze disaster.