Greater say in haze-related school closures needed

SIBU: Sarawak should have greater authority to decide when schools must close during haze emergencies, said Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth Chief, Kevin Lau Kor Jie.

He questioned whether the federal government had responded with equal urgency when unhealthy air conditions first affected the state.

His call followed the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) decision to lower the Air Pollutant Index (API) threshold for school closures from 200 to 180, a move he welcomed but said had raised concerns over the consistency and timing of the response.

Echoing concerns raised by Sarawak Anglican Mission Schools Board of Management’s President, Rt Rev. Datuk Danald Jute, Lau stressed that the health and safety of students, teachers and school staff must be protected equally, regardless of their geographical location.

“While we welcome this measure, the timing of its implementation raises legitimate concerns over whether the same urgency and attention were given to Sarawak when haze conditions first affected our state,” he said in a statement on Friday (Oct. 9).

Lau, who is also Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) Standing Committee Chairman for Environment and Public Health, urged the MOE to adopt a consistent, science-based approach to school closure decisions, ensuring that public health considerations take precedence over administrative delays or regional differences.

He said children were particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of haze, making timely precautionary measures essential whenever air quality deteriorated to unhealthy levels.

“The safety of our students, teachers and school staff must never depend on which region is affected. Public health concerns require timely and consistent action, regardless of geographical location,” he said.

However, Lau said the issue extended beyond haze management, highlighting the broader need for Sarawak to secure greater education autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

He pointed out that Sarawak’s geographical realities, environmental conditions and local circumstances required a more flexible decision-making framework, allowing the state to respond swiftly to emergencies without relying entirely on decisions made at the federal level.

“Decisions concerning school closures, emergency responses and the continuity of education must take into account conditions on the ground in Sarawak, rather than relying solely on a centralised approach,” he said.

Lau proposed that the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) be given an appropriate role in facilitating timely school safety decisions during haze episodes and other emergencies, working closely with the relevant education authorities.

He emphasised that greater autonomy did not mean Sarawak intended to distance itself from the national education system.

Instead, it would enable decisions to be made closer to the communities affected and by authorities better acquainted with local conditions.

“Education autonomy is not about distancing Sarawak from the national education system. It is about ensuring that decisions affecting Sarawak are made at the level best equipped to understand our circumstances and respond effectively,” he said.

Lau added that decentralised decision-making, supported by effective coordination between the Sarawak and Federal Governments, could strengthen emergency preparedness and ensure that local needs were addressed without unnecessary delays.

He said the ultimate objective of greater autonomy must be to deliver tangible benefits to Sarawakians, particularly in matters involving the wellbeing of children and the wider school community.

“As we continue to uphold the spirit of MA63, we must also ensure that greater autonomy translates into practical improvements in the lives of our people,” he said.

“The protection of our children and the right to make timely decisions in their best interests must be central to Sarawak’s pursuit of greater education autonomy.”