Decision tomorrow on closing Johor schools due to haze
The Education Ministry is monitoring the haze situation in Johor until 4pm tomorrow before deciding whether schools in the state should be closed or not.
Its minister Mahdzir Khalid said its decision would be announced at 5pm tomorrow.
“If the Air Pollutants Index (API) reading does not drop, we will ask the state education department to close schools in Johor.
“However, if it is otherwise, we will not close (the schools),” he told reporters after attending an Aidiladha sacrifice ceremony in Kampung Mani in Kuala Nerang today.
Mahdzir, who is also Padang Terap MP, said his ministry was also monitoring the haze situation in Johor’s neighbours Malacca and Negri Sembilan.
Pasir Gudang in Johor recorded an API of 201 at 9am today, which comes under the very unhealhty category. This week is a school holiday in the country but schools in Johor are scheduled to reopen on Sunday, which is a normal working day in the state.
The API readings in Kota Tinggi and Larkin Lama were 124 and 177 respectively.
Schools in Negri Sembilan and Malacca only re-start on Monday,
Malaysia’s southern neighbour ordered all its schools to shut today following its polltants index reading as high was 283.
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.
The public can visit the website at http://apims.doe.gov.my to know the current API readings.
- Bernama
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