Kuala Lampur, Sept. 18 -- The Penang government has opened an emergency centre at the Penang International Airport (PIA) in Bayan Lepas after six flights were diverted due to the worsening haze in the state.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the centre will manage any issues regarding flights in or out of the airport affected by the haze.

"We have heard from the PIA that as at noon, six flights had to be diverted due to the haze," he said.

Of the six, four were passenger flights while two were cargo planes.

The first passenger flight to be diverted was Lion Air JT132 from Medan to Penang that had been scheduled to land at 9.40am but was forced to turn back to Kualanamu.

Three other passenger flights are Silk Air MI346 (Singapo...