KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — Headmasters have been given the authority to stop outdoor activities in their schools if the haze worsens.

Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the ministry has no plans at present to issue a directive to halt all outdoor activities in schools. 

“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. 

However, Idris did not give a specific air pollutant index (API) reading during which the outdoor activities should stop. 

According to the Department of Environment (DOE), the API reading at Port Klang yesterday was generally unhealthy, reaching 131 by 5pm. 

The other areas with unhealthy API readings included Banting in Selangor, Seri Manjung in Perak and Sungai Petani, Kedah. 

A spokesman for the Malaysian Meteorological Department (JMM) said the visibility in the Klang Valley was the lowest yesterday. 

In Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, the visibility was 0.4km as of 4pm and in Subang Jaya, it was 0.6km. Normal visibility is 10km, while readings below 5km are considered unsafe. 

The visibility improved slightly after a downpour at 5pm. 

Malaysian Airports Holding Berhad senior general manager Datuk Azmi Murad said there have been no flight delays or cancellations so far.