GEORGE TOWN: Penang may call off the state-level National Day parade at Padang Kota Lama on Aug 31 if the haze situation worsens, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Chow said the state government would closely monitor the air quality over the next few days before deciding whether to proceed with the open-air event.
“This is a pressing concern of mine as well, since the National Day parade is conducted in the open.
“In the case of Penang, it is not quite feasible to have it (the parade) indoors. If the Air Pollution Index (API) reaches 200 and above, it is probably better not to continue with the event,” he said at a press conference in Komtar on Thursday (Aug 27).
However, Chow said no decision had been finalised as the parade was still several days away.
"The parade is still a few days away, so we will monitor the situation closely,” he said.
He added that shifting the parade to a stadium would not be a practical solution as it would still be an open-air venue.
"It is not possible to move it to an indoor hall. Even if it is moved to a stadium, it is still open-air. That is something we need to consider,” he explained.
All four Environment Department air monitoring stations in Penang recorded moderate API readings as of 2.30pm on Wednesday (Aug 26), with Balik Pulau at 75, Gelugor at 78, Seberang Jaya at 73 and Simpang Ampat at 83.
An API reading of 51 to 100 is classified as moderate, while readings of 101 to 200 are considered unhealthy.
