His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia says all schools in areas with an API reading of 150 and above, should be closed immediately. 

The ruler expressed concern about the health and well-being of students amid the ongoing haze, and wants precautionary measures taken to keep them safe.

The Education Ministry’s current SOP requires schools to only close when the API reading exceeds 200. 

At last look…there were 36 locations across the country recording API readings exceeding 150.

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In a related development, Budget 2027 presents a good opportunity for the government to channel funds towards preparing for future haze episodes.

Atmospheric scientist Dr Jayaprakash Muralitharan tells us, this includes better forecasting systems to give us more of a heads-up about the air quality.

He would also like to see funds going towards strengthening the respiratory healthcare capacity, and helping schools increase their capability to conduct home based learning.

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Meanwhile, more than 40 percent of respondents to an Astro Audio News survey have picked an increase in the minimum wage as the top item on their Budget 2027 wish-list.

32 percent are also hoping to see the government announce lower home prices.

Budget 2027 will be tabled in Parliament tomorrow.

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The Prime Minister says Myanmar is prepared to accept the repatriation of its nationals in large numbers , and is even willing to bear the associated costs. 

So far more than 10 thousand Myanmar citizens have been repatriated to their country, with more to be sent back pending negotiations between our two countries.

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In other news…

Two Form Four students have been charged at the Kuala Pilah magistrates court with murdering a Form 2 schoolmate at their hostel last month.

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And, the government plans to standardize disciplinary regulations for universities, under a proposed law to replace the Universities and University Colleges Act.