Malaysia closes schools as haze problem worsens
Print Edition
MALAYSIAN authorities yesterday ordered the majority of the country’s schools to close for two days due to the possible health risks posed by a thick haze coming from Indonesian forest fires.
The education ministry said all schools, except a handful in outlying areas, must close their doors today and tomorrow.
“The haze that is happening is beyond our control,” said Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid.
“This issue has to be addressed wisely and quickly as it can do harm to our children. We will not compromise with anything that might bring harm to our children,” he said.
The persistent smog has afflicted large swathes of Southeast Asia for weeks, sparking health alerts, numerous school shutdowns and affecting flights.
The pollution is on track to be the worst on record, surpassing the US$9 billion worth of damage recorded in 1997.
Close to half of Malaysia’s 52 pollutant monitoring stations around the country registered “unhealthy” air quality yesterday.
Six stations, including one in Kuala Lumpur registered “very unhealthy” levels, with one area on the outskirts of the capital hovering close to the “hazardous” level.
While Malaysia, Singapore and large portions of Indonesia have for weeks choked on pungent smoke from forest fires on Sumatra Island, the Philippine island of Cebu also suffered its seventh straight day of haze on Saturday.
Monsoon winds blowing northeast from the Indonesian blazes could have carried the smog, according to state weather forecaster Romeo Aguirre.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday he hopes Indonesia can discuss long-term measures to tackle the crisis.
“We hope its commitment is not only on paper or mere statements pleasant to the ears, but through implementation which could end all haze problems,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysia’s news agency Bernama.
The worsening haze problem has also had an impact on key sporting events in the region.
The Singapore leg of the FINA World Championships — swimming’s World Cup — was called off, while one of Malaysia’s biggest marathons, which was set for yesterday, was also canceled because of health fears for the 30,000 runners.
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