Kuala Lampur, Sept. 17 -- The Sarawak Education Department is empowered to close schools in areas where the air has become hazardous, Maszlee Malik said today.

The federal education minister said this is in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the ministry in January.

"However, the department will have to get the air quality data from the respective district education in the areas where the schools are situated before making the decision," he told reporters after visiting SMK Sungai Tapang at Kota Sentosa near here.

"Certainly, they will have to be closed immediately," he said when asked if the schools in Sri Aman will have to be closed as the Air Pollutant Index (API) has crossed into the red zone categoris...