KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 ― Parliament today accepted for debate an emergency motion on the worsening haze condition here as a result of forest fires from neighbouring Indonesia.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee approved the motion brought by Hee Loy Sian (PKR-Petaling Jaya Selatan) under Standing Order 18 (1) and allocated one hour from 4.30pm till 5.30pm today for debates.

“I have studied the motion and found that it is specific, urgent and of public interest and so I am allowing it to be debated today,” Kiandee said.

Schools in four haze-hit state and two federal territories remain closed since Monday, after the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings reached unhealthy levels.

The Education Ministry yesterday announced that schools in Selangor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, the districts of Kuching, Padawan, Bau, Lundu, Serian, Samarahan, Simunjan and Lubok Antu in Sarawak, districts of Kinta Utara, Kinta Selatan, Manjung and Tanjung Malim in Perak, and Kuala Muda/Yan in Kedah are to be closed today.

The closure will involve some 2,528 schools and 1,734, 668 students.

Schools in Malacca, Negri Sembilan, the districts of Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kunak in Sabah and Muar, Ledang and Segamat in Johor that were closed Monday and yesterday, but were reopened today after the API showed improvement.

The closures also come just ahead of critical year-end school assessments that determine the academic future of middle and upper secondary students.

The haze blanketing Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia is an annual affair that affects schools as well as airport operations, causing massive flight disruptions.

Indonesia’s recent admission that it cannot contain the fires within its borders led to projections that the haze could last for months.