Haze-hit areas: Parents to decide on childcare attendance, but kids must stay indoors, says family minister

The Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, announced that no childcare centres in Kuching would be closed due to the haze, but all outdoor activities must be halted to protect children from air pollution.

While taking into account working parents' reliance on childcare services, parents have the discretion to keep their children at home, especially in areas affected by school closures.

Nancy advised parents to communicate with employers or childcare operators regarding childcare arrangements and encouraged medical check-ups for children showing symptoms of illness amid the haze.

KUCHING, Oct 17 — No taska (childcare centres) have been ordered to close so far due to the haze, but all outdoor activities must be suspended to reduce children’s exposure to polluted air.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the decision not to order a blanket closure of childcare centres took into account the needs of working parents who rely on the services.

She said parents had the discretion to decide whether to send their children to childcare centres, particularly in areas where schools had been ordered to close following high Air Pollutant Index readings.

“We understand that some parents cannot simply leave their children at home because there is no one to look after them.

“So, perhaps parents can discuss with their employers or the respective childcare centre operators on the steps to be taken. However, the main requirement that must be observed is that children must not be allowed to play outdoors,” she told reporters after officiating the Empowerus 2026, themed ‘Empowering Leaders: Sustainable, Resilient and Ethical Leadership’, here today.

Nancy advised parents to take their children for medical check-ups if they showed symptoms of illness while the haze persisted. — Bernama

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妇女、家庭及社区发展部长拿督斯里南希·舒克里宣布，古晋的所有托儿中心不会因雾霾而关闭，但所有户外活动必须停止，以保护儿童免受空气污染。

考虑到在职父母对托儿服务的依赖，父母有权决定是否让孩子待在家中，尤其是在受学校关闭影响的地区。

南希建议家长与雇主或托儿机构沟通托儿安排事宜，并鼓励家长带出现疾病症状的儿童进行体检。

古晋，10月17日讯——尽管雾霾严重，但目前尚未有任何托儿中心被勒令关闭，不过所有户外活动都必须暂停，以减少儿童接触污染空气的机会。

妇女、家庭及社区发展部长拿督斯里南希·舒克里表示，不下令全面关闭托儿中心的决定考虑到了依赖这些服务的在职父母的需求。

她表示，家长可以自行决定是否将孩子送到托儿中心，尤其是在空气污染指数过高而勒令学校关闭的地区。

“我们理解有些父母不能把孩子独自留在家里，因为没有人照顾他们。

“所以，或许家长可以和他们的雇主或相应的托儿中心经营者讨论应该采取哪些措施。但是，必须遵守的主要要求是，绝对不允许儿童在户外玩耍，”她在今天为以“赋能领导者：可持续、有韧性和合乎道德的领导力”为主题的2026年赋能大会揭幕后告诉记者。

南希建议家长，如果孩子在雾霾持续期间出现任何疾病症状，应带孩子进行体检。——马新社

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