Haze: National Day Celebration Not Cancelled, Scale or Location May Be Changed – Fahmi
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Day Celebration on August 31 will not be cancelled following the haze situation affecting the country.
However, Government Spokesman, Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the scale or location of its organisation may be changed to ensure the safety and health of the participants and visitors.
He, who is also the Communications Minister, explained that the Cabinet decided for the Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN), Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar to hold discussions with relevant ministries and departments this afternoon to examine the matter.
“The KSN will examine together with the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), the Meteorological Department as well as several other ministries including the Ministry of Education (KPM) and the Ministry of Health (KKM) to make a decision.
“This is based on estimates and projections of weather conditions for the next five to six days, including possible scenarios regarding the haze situation,” he said at a post-Cabinet Meeting press conference here on Wednesday.
Fahmi added that the discussion will determine whether the National Day celebration is continued at the original location at Dataran Putrajaya, the location is changed or its scale is altered.
“Yes, we will not cancel it but whether its scale is changed or its location is changed. We await the results of Tan Sri KSN’s meeting this afternoon,” he said.
He said the matter also takes into account the involvement of approximately 1,500 secondary school students from three states who are participating in the ‘human graphic’ performance in conjunction with the National Day celebration.
“This matter was not decided in the (Cabinet) meeting but we will take note from KKM and also KPM,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fahmi informed that the National Day eve programme scheduled to take place on August 30 at Dataran Merdeka will also be examined.
Astro Awani