SHAH ALAM, 14 SEP: The Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) was urged to recheck the API index limit that allows a school to close.
Chief Minister, Dato’ Mohamed Azmin Ali, said that the current limit of API 200 that was fixed by MOE is no longer relevant.
He said the rate needs to be lowered to at least API 160 as the situation was already deemed unhealthy.
“An API limit like 177 should be labeled unhealthy and hazardous to health.
“Therefore, I suggest that the limit be lowered so that schools can close and the children can stay at home or indoors without needing to go out,” he said during a press conference.
Earlier, he officiated the cornerstone laying ceremony for the Darul Ehsan Medical Centre (DEMC) Women’s and Children’s Hospital here, today.
As of 11am this morning, the official website of the Department of Environment (DOE) recorded unhealthy API readings in five areas in Selangor.
Banting recorded the highest API reading of 175, followed by Port Klang (165), Shah Alam (147), Kuala Selangor (146) and Petaling Jaya (143).
At the same time, Mohamed Azmin said that the State Government will distribute face masks free of charge in several areas.
“Yesterday, I gave out instructions to the State Secretary to purchase face masks and we will distribute them in focus areas as soon as possible,” he said.
NS
