Haze may force changes to National Day celebrations, says Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 26 — The Malaysian government is reevaluating the scope and location of this year's National Day celebrations due to the haze impacting various regions, but cancellation is not being contemplated yet, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced today. Fahmi informed the press that the Cabinet had received updates from the Malaysian Meteorological Department regarding the haze situation, including in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, and Sarawak, which has been particularly hard hit.

He stated that the event will not be cancelled, but adjustments to the scale or location might be made. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar will convene a meeting later today with key agencies, including the Communications, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Meteorological, Education, and Health Ministries, to evaluate the situation and decide on the necessary actions for the celebrations.

The meeting will consider weather forecasts and projections for the next five to six days, including the anticipated haze conditions, before making a final decision. The review will encompass the National Day events scheduled for August 31 at Dataran Putrajaya and August 30 at Dataran Merdeka, organized by Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the banking giant CIMB.

The decision will prioritize the safety and health of both attendees and participants. Fahmi highlighted that the Education and Health Ministries will also be consulted, as the National Day celebrations involve around 1,500 secondary school students from three states participating in a human graphic formation. The final decision on the events is anticipated following the meeting chaired by Shamsul.

Earlier, Putrajaya registered an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 156, which the government classifies as "Unhealthy" under national environmental standards.