Malaysia: Exams to go on as planned even if haze or floods return - Education Ministry

REBECCA RAJAENDRAM The Star 2 Nov 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations will go on as planned even if the haze or floods return as the Education Ministry has plans in place to cope with the situations.

Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan said (pic) it is “important” that the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations go on.

“We (Education Ministry) are working closely with all the involved agencies such as the police, army, Rela, the Fire and Rescue Department, and others,” he told reporters after his visit to SMK Aminuddin Baki on Monday, the first day of the SPM examinations.

“This is not the first time, we have always worked with them,” he said.

Kamalanathan said he was happy that only two or three locations nationwide had recorded moderate Air Pollutant Index (API) readings on Monday.

He added that in case API readings reach unhealthy levels, the Ministry would provide masks to examination candidates and invigilators.

“We are not talking about postponing the exams at all unless it (API readings) reaches 500, in which case it is considered an emergency,” he added.

In case of flooding, Kamalanathan said the Ministry has prepared “Ops Payung”, specifically for the flood-prone states.

“For example, in case of flooding in the lower floors, we will move the examination (rooms) to the higher floors,” he said.

About 440,000 SPM candidates and 45,000 SPTM candidates across Malaysia began the examinations on Monday.

Malaysia to use two measurements for API readings in 2017
New Straits Times 3 Nov 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will use two tools which can measure the particles at 2.5 micron or PM2.5 and read fine particle levels of less than 10 microns (PM10) for the Air Pollutant Index (API), in 2017.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said: “The use of the two tools are more effective and accurate to get API readings that are more comprehensive.”

He was speaking to reporters after attending a cheque-presentation ceremony from sponsors for the Prime Minister Hibiscus Award 2014/2015, here, today.

Also present was the chairman of the Prime Minister Hibiscus Award 2014/2015 organising committee, Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur.

Wan Junaidi said besides the two tools for API reading, the ministry was also proposing the use of a measuring tool for river and sea water pollution in the future.

Wan Junaidi said the ministry assured that the API reading method currently used by Malaysia met international standards.

Meanwhile, Mustafa said the Prime Minister Hibiscus Award for the 2014/2015 session had received sponsorships worth RM161,000 from 10 private organisations and seven state governments.

He said 54 companies of various businesses were competing for the award this time, an increase of 20 per cent over the previous session.

In the Environmental Journalism category, 18 entries had been submitted compared to seven previously, he said. -- Bernama