KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — The government is refining proposals to improve the National Haze Action Plan, particularly regarding school closure directives and the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) early preparations to ensure learning can continue if schools are forced to close.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, via a Facebook post yesterday, said the health of children remains the government’s top priority while ensuring their education is not disrupted.
He said the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), the Department of Environment, and the Malaysian Meteorological Department will refine these proposals together with the MOE and the Ministry of Health (MOH).
“I also emphasised that allocation requirements for cloud seeding operations will be fulfilled to reduce the haze. These operations are currently being carried out almost daily, depending on suitable cloud conditions,” he said in the post.
Earlier, the Prime Minister chaired a National Disaster Management Council meeting, which discussed in detail the current and concerning haze situation as well as its impact on public health, especially school going children.
Anwar said the meeting was also briefed on the country’s preparations to face the North-east Monsoon, which is expected to bring heavy rain and flood risks, as well as the threat of a Super El Nino forecasted to bring extreme hot and dry weather next year.
“Accordingly, the preparedness of frontline agencies must continue to be enhanced. Nadma must be empowered as the pulse of cross-agency policy and operational coordination, particularly through the Central Disaster Operations Control Centre, so that prevention, preparation, response, and recovery measures can be implemented swiftly and effectively,” he said.
He added that the Federal and State Governments, the private sector, volunteers, and the community must move together to strengthen community preparedness.
“The lives of the people must be protected, and aid must reach those in need immediately. This is the trust that we must shoulder together,” he said. — Bernama