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Haze closes schools, halts Marathon race in Malaysia

THE prolonged haze season continued to shroud the Malaysian peninsula on Sunday, forcing schools to be closed and a Marathon race was canceled for health concern.

As of Sunday afternoon, at least five areas reported "very unhealthy level," according to the Department of Environment website. One area recorded "Hazardous" air pollution level earlier in the day.

Runways at three major airports, including one near the capital of Kuala Lumpur, were reported temporarily closed due to poor visibility. Some flights were disrupted.

The government said all schools in Peninsular except for the northern state of Kelantan were ordered to close on Monday and Tuesday due to the worsening haze.

Four Malaysia Cup matches scheduled late Saturday were called off while a Marathon on Sunday was canceled. The Youth and Sports Ministry said the first National Sports Day slated for Oct. 10 would be canceled if the haze weather persists.

Some experts said the annual haze season, mainly caused by forest burning activities in Indonesia, has been prolonged thanks to the current El Nino weather phenomenon.

Unlike its neighbor Singapore, Malaysia has refrained from voicing strong criticism against Jakarta over the haze. But Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said a plan taken by the Indonesian government to combat haze is deemed too long.




 

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