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Malaysia flies its citizens out of polluted Pekanbaru
(Tribun Pekanbaru/Melvinas Priananda)The Malaysian Consulate in Pekanbaru, Riau, has started flying the 120 Malaysian citizens living there out of the area to escape the smog that has blanketed the region for the last few weeks
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(Tribun Pekanbaru/Melvinas Priananda) (Tribun Pekanbaru/Melvinas Priananda)
(Tribun Pekanbaru/Melvinas Priananda)
The Malaysian Consulate in Pekanbaru, Riau, has started flying the 120 Malaysian citizens living there out of the area to escape the smog that has blanketed the region for the last few weeks.
"It is a cautious measure given the Air Pollution Standard Index [ISPU] has already passed the hazardous level. We will pick up [the citizens] using a military aircraft based at Subang Airport in Malaysia," said Malaysian Consulate staffer Antoni on Friday as quoted by Antara news agency.
Of the 120 Malaysian citizens living in Pekanbaru, 86 are students, 10 are teachers and the rest are their partners and children.
The citizens gathered at the Malaysian Consulate in Pekanbaru prior to departure from Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru.
"We have received instructions from the Malaysian government to come home due to the high level of hazardous jerebu [smog] in Pekanbaru," said Ahmad Akifahmi who lived there as a santri (devout Muslim) at the Islamic boarding school Pondok Pesantren Al Baidha. (kes)(++++)
