WORSENING HAZE LEADS TO CANCELLATION OF MALAYSIAN CUP MATCHES

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -  The worsening haze situation in the Klang Valley and several parts of the country has led to the cancellation of several sporting events as well as warnings about plunge in visibility.

Four Malaysia Cup matches last night were called off while the Standard Chartered KL Marathon scheduled for today was also cancelled.

• The called off matches are – Group A’s Johor Darul Ta’zim II vs Terengganu (Pasir Gudang Stadium), Group B’s Armed Forces vs Sarawak (Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium, Paroi), Group D’s Police vs Pahang (Shah Alam Stadium) and PKNS FC vs Penang (Selayang Stadium).

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) competitions committee came to the decision based on the request by the match commissioners after the Air Pollution Index (API) soared above the 150 level.

Organisers of the Standard Chartered KL Marathon said in a press statement yesterday that the health and safety of runners remain­ed their top priority.

The statement said the decision to call off the event was made on the advice of the me­­dical team, the Malaysian Athletics Federation and the Institut Sukan Negara.

The Meteorological Department issued a warning on haze-induced low visibility of less than 5km over the waters off nine states – Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, Pahang and Sarawak – yesterday.

I said, The condition is risky to sea vessels without navigational equipment.

Source: The Star