Childcare centres in Sarawak will close immediately if the Air Pollutant Index (API) reaches 200, as the state steps up measures to protect children from worsening haze.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the measure follows an earlier decision by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to protect children from exposure to unhealthy air.
On Aug 12, the SDMC announced that schools, kindergartens and childcare centres would be closed once the API reaches 200, a level classified as very unhealthy under the National Haze Action Plan.
Nancy said the directive currently applies to Sarawak but could be extended to other states if haze conditions worsen and spread. Any closure would be based on official directives from the respective state governments or relevant authorities.
This, she said, would ensure a coordinated response and prevent confusion among the public.
On arrangements for working parents if childcare centres are closed, Nancy said the matter would have to be addressed by the respective state governments as the directive falls under state jurisdiction.
For Peninsular Malaysia, working-from-home arrangements would continue to be implemented where necessary, while parents in Sarawak would have to await further instructions from the state government.
