Penang CM Chow Kon Yeow says the state-level National Day parade may be cancelled if API hits 200 amid worsening haze conditions.
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will closely monitor the haze situation ahead of the state-level National Day celebration on Aug 31, with the possibility of the parade being cancelled if the Air Pollution Index (API) reading reaches 200 and above.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said this was among the state government’s concerns as the parade will be held in an open area at Padang Kota Lama.
“If the API reading reaches 200 and above, it may be better not to proceed. However, there are still a few more days left and we will monitor the situation closely,” he told reporters here today.
He said the state government had yet to make a decision on the matter, adding that appropriate action would be taken if the haze situation continued to worsen.
Chow said that relocating the event, scheduled to be held at Padang Kota Lama, to an indoor location was also not an easy option, pointing out that even if the state government were to move it to a stadium, it would still be out in the open.
Meanwhile, state Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said there had been no increase in respiratory-related cases linked to the haze in Penang so far.
He said that he was informed of this by the Penang State Health Department (JKNPP) this morning and that the situation remained under control, although monitoring was continuing.
As for schools, Gooi said the State Education Department has existing guidelines, including monitoring API readings in the morning and evening daily, to determine the necessary measures.
He said one of the measures that could be implemented if the API reading reached 200 or above was to suspend physical classes and switch to home-based learning.
