PUTRAJAYA, Oct 16 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to chair the Central Disaster Management Committee’s High-Level Committee (HLC) meeting on Monday to discuss several haze-related issues, including inter-ministerial coordination and developments in the fires in Indonesia.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the meeting would also focus on measures to address the impact of haze on public health, school operations and outdoor sports activities, with the involvement of the Health Ministry (MOH), Education Ministry (MOE) and Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS).
“A meeting chaired by the Prime Minister will be held this Monday, and haze issues will be discussed, among other matters. Further information will be provided following Monday’s meeting, including input from the MOH, MOE and KBS,” he told a press conference after the Cabinet meeting here today.
Fahmi, who is also MADANI Government spokesperson, said the Cabinet had also been briefed on the need for more comprehensive coordination among the ministries to address the effects of haze, particularly on outdoor sports activities and school operations.
He said the MOE and MOH had informed the Cabinet that the guidelines currently in use were based on the National Haze Action Plan, which remains in force.
On the developments forest fires in Indonesia and Malaysia’s offer of assistance, Fahmi said several coordination matters still needed to be worked out before further action could be taken.
He said the spread of the fires had also necessitated a reassessment of the assistance and assets offered by Malaysia about a month ago to ensure they met current needs.
“The fires have spread considerably. Therefore, any assistance and assets offered about a month ago may now need to be reassessed to ensure that the assistance serves its intended purpose.
“Further discussions will be held, but so far, there is no detailed or specific information on what assets will be sent,” he said.
— BERNAMA