Najib: Ministry to decide on school closure after the holidays

Say cheese: Najib chairing the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) meeting at the Parliament building yesterday. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) and the ECERDC chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John (second from right). — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry will decide on the need to close schools if the extreme heat continues after the end of the first term holidays this week, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The existing procedures gave school heads the authority to cancel outdoor activities if the conditions warranted it, he added.

“The Government will take all necessary precautionary measures on the extreme heat,” Najib said in his latest blog posting on www.najibrazak.com yesterday.

Najib said that he was very concerned about the dangerous effects from the extreme heat, especially to children and the aged.

The school session in Kedah, Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu is scheduled to resume on March 20 and March 21 for other states.

Najib also urged the public to seek immediate medical treatment in government clinics or hospitals if they experienced symptoms related to the hot weather or heatwave such as headaches, foot eczema, rapid heartbeat, rashes, cramps or body pains.

He also urged the public to take precautions against fires especially in dry areas such as playgrounds near housing estates, farms, bushes and forests.

Malaysia is experiencing extraordinary hot weather and reduced rainfall due to the El Nino phenomenon.

On another matter, Najib condemned in the strongest terms the bombing in Ankara, Turkey, saying that there was a need for governments to increase efforts in international intelligence cooperation to fight terrorism.

“This heinous act of terrorism has no place in our society and I agree with (Turkey’s) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call to redefine terrorism to include those who support such acts,” he said in a Facebook posting.

A car explosion in Ankara killed 37 people and injured at least 125 others on Sunday.

“We must stay ahead in the war against terrorism by increasing our efforts in international intelligence cooperation,” he added.

Najib extended his deepest condolences to the Turkish government and to the affected families.

He also reminded Malaysians in Turkey to be on the alert at all times, especially of their surroundings.

They should contact the Malaysian Embassy in Ankara at +(90)312-4463547 or +(90)312-4463548 if they needed help, he said. — Bernama