PETALING JAYA: The government has been urged to explain why stronger measures to protect children from the worsening haze were announced only after His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, intervened.
MCA Education Consultative Committee chairman and deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said parents deserved an explanation from the Madani government over the timing of its response.
His Majesty had called for schools in affected areas to close, particularly where air pollutant index (API) readings remained between 150 and 180 for prolonged periods.
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The Education Ministry subsequently announced that its institutions in areas recording API readings above 180 would close from Friday (Oct 9), while those in areas with readings above 150 for three consecutive days would close from Monday (Oct 12), according to a Bernama report.
"While these measures are welcome, they raise a legitimate question: why was a more precautionary response not communicated earlier as air quality deteriorated?" Dr Mah said in a statement on Friday.
He said the haze had already raised serious public health concerns in August, when Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad reported a 259% increase in asthma cases, from 61 to 219, and a 124% rise in upper respiratory tract infection cases, from 1,637 to 3,674, between epidemiological weeks 32 and 33.
The figures were reported on Aug 23.
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"These figures should have reinforced the urgency of protecting children, whose exposure to polluted air requires particular attention.
"Restricting outdoor activities alone is not a sufficient response when prolonged exposure to unhealthy air remains a concern," he said.
Dr Mah said the responsibility extended beyond the Education Ministry, with others overseeing early childhood care and education, including the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and the National Unity Ministry, needing clear and coordinated protocols to protect children at their respective childcare centres (taska) and nursery schools (tabika).
He called on the relevant ministries to explain when they assessed the risks, what preventive measures were implemented, and why a clearer, coordinated response was not communicated sooner.
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"They should also establish transparent, consistent closure thresholds and ensure parents receive timely updates," he said.
Dr Mah welcomed His Majesty's concern for students' safety but stressed that protecting children should not depend on royal intervention before decisive action was taken.
"Public health risks demand foresight, coordination and timely leadership, and not a response only after the highest authority has spoken," he said.
