KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — The education ministry has ordered all schools in Peninsular Malaysia except Kelantan to be closed for the next two days amid a worsening haze crisis.
According to The Star Online, education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the schools would be closed on October 5 and 6 (Monday and Tuesday).
“For Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak, the Education Ministry will monitor the haze hourly before deciding on the need to close schools.
“If the haze condition deteriorates in these three states, we will also take the same measure,” he was quoted saying at a press conference at SMK Seri Ampang in Jalan Kuala Kedah.
Unhealthy air levels continue to worsen this morning especially in Selangor with Shah Alam hitting the hazardous level in the air pollutant index (API) reading (308), according to the Department of Environment (DOE).
As of 10am, five areas have breached the 200 or “very unhealthy” level. They are Banting (252), Port Klang (246), Petaling Jaya (257), Batu Muda (264) and Putrajaya (238).
Unhealthy to moderate readings were also observed nationwide except in areas in Sabah and Sarawak.
An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy; and 300 and above, hazardous.
Only eight areas have so far registered good air quality.
