Sarawak childcare centres to shut once haze hits API 200, Nancy Shukri confirms directive

KUCHING, Aug 22 — Childcare centres in Sarawak are set to close immediately if the Air Pollutant Index (API) rises to 200, as confirmed by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri. The decision, made by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), seeks to protect children from the health risks posed by exposure to haze.

The SDMC announced on Aug 12 that schools, kindergartens, and childcare centres would be shut down when the API reached 200, a level deemed "very unhealthy" under the National Haze Action Plan. Shukri expressed concern over the potential impact on children's health and their families. The directive, now applicable in Sarawak, would also be followed in other regions if the haze situation worsens.

Any closures would be based on official directives from state governments to prevent public confusion. Nancy Shukri noted that concerns from working parents would be managed by respective state governments, as the directive falls under their jurisdiction.