{
  "id": 15143974,
  "title": "No childcare centres closed due to haze",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/no-childcare-centres-closed-due-to-haze",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T06:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/17/no-childcare-centres-closed-due-to-haze"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUCHING: As of now, no childcare centres have been ordered to close due to the haze, although all outdoor activities must be suspended to minimize children's exposure to polluted air. Women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri made this announcement, explaining that the decision not to close all taskas (childcare centres) was made considering the needs of working parents who depend on these services. Parents were given the option to decide whether to send their children to childcare centres, especially in areas where schools had been ordered to shut down due to high air pollutant index (API) readings. The minister acknowledged that not all parents could leave their children at home, as there might not be anyone to care for them. Therefore, Shukri suggested that parents could discuss with their employers or childcare centre operators the necessary steps to be taken. She emphasized that the primary requirement was for children not to play outdoors during the haze. After launching the EmpowerUS 2026 leadership programme, Nancy advised parents to take their children for medical check-ups if they exhibited illness symptoms while the haze persisted.",
  "summary": "Women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri says the children are, however, not allowed to play outdoors to reduce exposure to the polluted air.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "No childcare centres closed due to haze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/no-childcare-centres-closed-due-to-haze-15147204",
        "published": "2026-10-17T06:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}