After Muar, haze forces schools in Batu Pahat and Pasir Gudang to be temporarily closed

The worsening haze in Johor has forced more schools to take a break from tomorrow.

State Education director, Mohd Nor A Ghani said after all primary and secondary schools in Muar were ordered to be closed today, schools in Batu Pahat and Pasir Gudang were also instructed to do the same.

"In Batu Pahat, 175 schools with 80,000 students are affected by the move and in Pasir Gudang, 105 schools with 116,493 students," he said, here, today.

The Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in both districts rose in the evening to 333 in Pasir Gudang but the reading in Batu Pahat was not available as the device is believed to be faulty.

In Muar, the API reading was 383 at 11am, following which, 211 schools in the district were ordered to take a holiday today.

Meanwhile, the operations at the Senai International Airport went on as usual.

Senai Airport Terminal Services assistant general manager (business development), Adny Ahmad, said some flights were however rescheduled due to the hazy conditions although it had received no alert from the Department of Civil Aviation.

He said the priority now was to minimise the inconveniences of its airline partners and customers.

In SELANGOR, the API readings were at moderate levels (51-100) so far, according to state Department of Environment director, Siti Zaleha Ibrahim.

She said Banting recorded an AP reading of 91, Kuala Selangor (67), Port Klang (70), Petaling Jaya (67) and Shah Alam (69).

Siti Zaleha said the department would take action against those carrying out open burning as this could aggravate the situation.