Malaysia Considers Changing National Day Celebration Due to Haze

Malaysia's government is actively monitoring the haze situation and may adjust the upcoming National Day celebrations. The Cabinet has acknowledged the impact of the current haze, which affects several areas including the federal administrative center in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, as well as Sarawak.

In response, the government has tasked the Chief Secretary to the Government with convening discussions with relevant ministries and agencies. These discussions will focus on determining the necessary measures for the National Day celebration on August 31. The potential adjustments include altering the scale or relocating the event, which is currently planned for Dataran Putrajaya. The eve of National Day program at Dataran Merdeka on August 30 is also under review.

The consultations will involve the Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Malaysian Meteorological Department, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Education. These bodies will assess weather forecasts and the haze scenario for the next five to six days before a final decision is made. The possibility of moving the celebration to an indoor venue is also being considered, alongside suitability of location and other factors.

While the celebration will not be canceled, the government is open to modifying its scale or location if necessary. The input from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education will be crucial, given the participation of approximately 1,500 secondary school students from three states. The final decision hinges on the outcomes of the Chief Secretary's meeting and the evolving weather conditions.