Haze forces schools to close again

PETALING JAYA: Schools in several states will close on Monday (Oct 19) due to the worsening haze, according to the Education Minister. 

Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid announced that the affected schools are in Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur as well as Kuching and Samarahan in Sarawak, and Tawau in Sabah.

He posted the announcement on his Facebook page as well as on his Twitter account.

On Sunday, the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in these areas exceeded 120 at 7pm.

Mahdzir, however, said that the Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and Kolej Vokasional examinations would continue under Ops Topeng.

The Education Ministry has also set a standard operating procedure to close schools if API readings reached certain levels.

This is the fourth time the Education Ministry ordered a shut down of schools due to the haze this year.

An API of between 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy), 301 and above (hazardous).