By Shikin Louis
TELOK MELANO, Aug 21: There is no blanket closure of childcare centres (TASKA), but the measures currently implemented in Sarawak amid the haze could be applied nationwide if similar conditions arise.
Federal Minister for Women, Family and Community Development, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, said the current situation was more specific to Sarawak, but the same regulations would apply to other States should they experience conditions requiring such measures.
“What we are seeing now is more in Sarawak. So if this happens in other States throughout the country, we will give the same directive because the regulations are the same,” she told reporters after the officiation of Masjid Al-Sultan Abdullah here today.
Nancy said the regulations provided a common set of requirements that needed to be followed when conditions reached a level warranting action, particularly when children were involved.
“If it exceeds the level that we need to comply with, then we must at least issue the same directive.
“The rules are universal, common rules that need to be followed by everyone,” she said.
She said the Ministry would continue to assess conditions in Sarawak and other parts of the country to determine whether similar measures were necessary.
“Now Sarawak has already started implementing it. So we also need to look at the situation in other places, whether in Sarawak or throughout the country, so that we can carry out our responsibilities according to what has been determined, especially when it involves students,” she said.
Nancy said prolonged disruption to schooling would also require proper planning, particularly if children were unable to attend school or childcare centres for an extended period.
“If students are out of school for too long, there needs to be certain planning. We believe that, just as during Covid-19, we complied with the regulations that were put in place, Malaysia will also be able to meet these requirements,” she said.
She added that work-from-home arrangements for Ministry of Women, Family and Communitry Development (KPWKM) staff would also need to continue if such measures were extended.
Nancy was responding to questions on whether TASKA should also follow school closure measures when conditions reach hazardous levels, following Sarawak’s implementation of such measures amid the haze. — DayakDaily
