Singapore rolls out haze subsidies as Malaysia extends school closures
Singapore activated its haze subsidy scheme, capping treatment costs at S$10 for eligible residents, while schools in parts of Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor remained closed as a precaution.
Singapore has introduced subsidies for haze-related medical treatment and closed schools in certain regions as the country grapples with poor air quality caused by fires in nearby Indonesia. The haze in Singapore has ranked the world's most polluted city according to air quality monitor IQAir. The fires on Borneo and Sumatra islands, exacerbated by an intensified El Nino weather phenomenon, are emitting toxic haze, leading to tens of thousands of respiratory illness cases.
The Singapore government activated schemes offering affordable care for haze-related conditions, capped at S$10 for most Singaporeans and S$5 for senior citizens aged 67 and above. In Malaysia, schools reopened in most areas as air quality improved mildly but remained closed in Johor, as well as parts of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Indonesia typically battles wildfires during the dry season; however, this year's fires are more intense due to the strong El Nino, which is one of the strongest since records began four decades ago. Slash-and-burn land-clearing practices are also contributing to the worsening situation. The transboundary haze has disrupted regional travel, with Malaysian low-cost carrier Firefly canceling flights between Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang and Singapore's Seletar Airport from Saturday to Monday out of precaution.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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