Childcare Operators Advised To Halt Outdoor Activities As Haze Persists Nationwide

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 9 – The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has urged all childcare centre (TASKA) operators nationwide to immediately suspend outdoor activities to protect young children from hazardous air pollution caused by ongoing haze.

In a statement issued through the Social Welfare Department (JKM) on Friday, October 9, 2026, KPWKM emphasized that all operational decisions at early childhood facilities must align with local Air Pollutant Index (API) readings and follow established guidelines under the National Haze Action Plan.

“KPWKM advises all childcare centre operators to stop outdoor activities to reduce children’s exposure to polluted air, while ensuring the environment remains safe and conducive,” the ministry stated.

Operational Guidance and Parent-Operator Collaboration

For centres that remain open, the ministry recommended flexible arrangements balancing child welfare with working parents’ needs:

• Flexible Care Arrangements: Where environmental conditions allow centres to stay open, operators and parents are encouraged to consult directly to determine care setups best suited to local haze levels and family working requirements.
• Prioritizing Child Safety: KPWKM reiterated that the safety, health, and well-being of young children must remain the central priority in all operational choices made by childcare management.
• Adherence to Official Health Advisories: Operators and parents are advised to continuously monitor API updates from the Department of Environment (DOE) and strictly comply with directives issued by the Ministry of Health and relevant government authorities.
• Proactive Communication: JKM highlighted that close communication and mutual understanding between operators and working parents are essential to maintaining continuous, safe protection for children throughout the haze episode.

The advisory comes as multiple states across Peninsular Malaysia continue to record unhealthy API levels, prompting school closures and heightened public health precautions.

–NMT