School headmasters have been given the green light from the Education Ministry to halt outdoor activities in their schools if the haze worsens.
Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said that there are no plans by his ministry to issue a blanket director to all schools ordering them to stop outdoor activities.
“This is appropriate for the time being because the haze affects different areas differently. So we trust the headmasters will act in the best interest of their students,” he told The Malay Mail yesterday.
Idris did not, however, state a specific air pollutant index (API) reading at which schools should stop their outdoor activities.
According to figures supplied by the Department of Environment, the API reading at Port Klang yesterday was an unhealthy 131 at 5pm. The Malaysian Meteorological Department spokesperson said visibility in the Klang Valley was at its lowest yesterday.
In KL and PJ, visibility was at 0.4km at 4pm; in Subang Jaya, it was at 0.6km. Normal visibility is 10km, and readings of 5km or lower are considered unsafe.
Malaysian Airports Holdings Berhad senior general manager Datuk Azmi Murad said there have been no flight delays or cancellations caused by the haze so far.
Related: Dengue, drought and now, dust: the haze returns to KL
Photo: thienzieyung / Flickr
Source: The Malay Mail Online
