JULY 1 — I read the news in disbelief.
Parents can decide whether to send kids to school in haze areas. — The Malaysian Insider.
I say Tan Sri Education Minister, let the parents decide whether or not they want PPSMI. Let them decide whether they want their children to take up religious lessons in school, or how many languages to learn, or whether or not their children should be subjected to political ceramahs, masqueraded as motivational talks accompanied by a barrage of “LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN.”
You can let them choose all that.
But when it comes to natural, or unnatural disasters, please do not let them choose. You have at your disposal the Meteorological, Health and not forgetting the various government ministries, doctors, chest physicians, public health consultants to help you make an informed decision.
The parents, on the other hand, don’t have such luxuries. Some of them do not even have access to proper medical facilities, can’t read, what more understand what APU or IPU means to their children’s health. Some are ignorant, while others are simply too busy to notice the deterioration of the air quality around them.
Malaysian parents depend on you, Tan Sri, to tell them it is safe for their children to go to school. The buck stops with you.
If you are unsure, and as a general rule, ask yourself if it is safe for your children to be in them. If the answer is a “no”, then it is also a “no” to all other parents.
Please, stop me if I am wrong.
If you are too busy to issue statements, and guide parents in making the right decision, perhaps you can just let us know when you decide it is safe enough to send your children to school. Malaysians are simple people.
If it is good enough for you, it is certainly good enough for us.
And get your director-general examined at the nearest hospital. He said that previously closed schools should re-open if the API is below 250. Just so you know, our Department of Environment classifies an index of 200-300 as “very unhealthy.”
Either he has inhaled too much of the polluted air, is conducting a health experiment on children, does not understand what very unhealthy means, or the index classification by the Department of Environment needs a review.
He has managed to somehow confuse an already confused public about what very unhealthy is. Again, as a general rule, what is good for you is good for us.
So would you expose your children to such an environment that is deemed very unhealthy by the Department of Environment? I would be very surprised if you said yes.
Keep the children safe, Tan Sri. They are the building blocks of our future.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
