Across the Land

When the 'authorities' talked about the school closure due to haze, nothing or rather no one was clear about it. School or no school? Which states? Teachers and students or only students? Whose authority it is to give directive, PMD or MOE? MOE's website was out-dated for urgent issue like this. They seemed very slow in making decision. Should it be called 'cuti berganti' or 'cuti darurat jerebu'? Then, the night before the next day. 'Teacher, got school or not?' The TV1 highlighted, 'school is still closed'. Another, 'schools may open tomorrow'. Statements are contradictory. I just want the MOE to be the only one giving one fast, short and clear announcement through its website and on television.

I think this is the first time the schools in KL and Selangor are closed due to haze. So are in several parts of West Malaysia. The topic is all over the country and all over the social networks. People hating it. Hating the people who started it. The smell of the smokey haze is so obvious as if the burnings are happening in the neighborhood. And the doors and windows are all tightly closed. Muar was on emergency status last night and it still is again, I think, this morning. The API index reading was 750! Over there in Riau, Indonesia, they are covered by double thick smoke of their doing. The lungs are crying, "hello, Indonesian Government, what are you doing?!"

I have just read another blogger's 'frustrations' about the teacher's world today. Gone are the days when going back to work after the holidays was something that was really looked forward to. School going children are also not spared.  So, let us work this out together..