Forest fire: schools advised to remain close until situation improves - Exco

Tan Chen Choon

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Two schools affected by the forest fire in Gelang Patah, near here, have been advised to remain closed until the situation improves.

State Local Government, Urban Wellbeing and Environment Committee chairman Tan Chen Choon said that the Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanjung Adang and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tanjung Adang had been ordered to close for two days from yesterday.

“The two schools have been ordered to close until things get better. I believe the state Education Department will provide further information when the schooling sessions at the two schools can be resumed,” he said at a press conference at the Tanjung Adang community hall, which also served as the operations centre of the state Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM), here today.

Based on yesterday’s check, the forest fire situation was still critical, he said.

He also said the decision was also based on a recent decreed by the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who wished for the two schools to be closed due to their proximity to the forest fire area, believed could adversely affect the health of the students, teachers and staff.

About 70 per cent of the 16 hectares of forest fire has been successfully extinguished, which entered its seventh day today, he said.

In the meantime, JBPM Johor Zone 1 chief Mohamad Faizul Selamat said the total flooding technique would be used for the remaining 30 per cent of the area of fire which were still burning.

Meanwhile, the status of both schools whether they can be reopened as usual tomorrow will be announced this afternoon.

Johor Education Department deputy director (school management) Ab Rahim Lamin said as of this afternoon, the two schools were scheduled to resume sessions as usual tomorrow with some precautionary measures.

“However, if the Department of Environment (DOE) says it is still not safe, we will continue with the closure. Everything is up to the monitoring of air quality at both schools this afternoon,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Among the precautions to be implemented are all schoolchildren will be asked to wear the face masks provided, while students with asthma-related problems are allowed to skip classes.

-- BERNAMA