National Day address moves to PICC as haze deepens
Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Setia Dr. Mohd Isa Hj. Hussain, chair of the National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations working committee, said the Merdeka Eve address will now be held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre instead of Dataran Merdeka.
Source: The Rakyat Post · August 27, 2026 at 1:51 PM · AI-assisted report
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PUTRAJAYA, 27 AUGUST 2026 —
Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Setia Dr. Mohd Isa Hj. Hussain, chair of the National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations working committee, said the Merdeka Eve address will now be held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre instead of Dataran Merdeka.
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Isa said the relocation protects guests and the public from worsening haze, but the programme and spirit of the event remain unchanged. The committee will decide on the 2026 parade after assessments by the Health Ministry, Department of Environment and Malaysian Meteorological Department.
Air quality in parts of Sarawak and the Klang Valley has entered the “unhealthy” range, with readings above 100 reported by the Department of Environment on Thursday at 4pm. More than 400 hotspots in Kalimantan and Sumatra have sent smoke across the Malacca Strait, compounded by dry weather linked to El Niño.
Authorities are preparing cloud-seeding operations if the Air Pollutant Index stays above 150 for 24 hours. Schools may suspend outdoor activities or close if conditions worsen, following Education Ministry guidelines. Health officials have noted a rise in respiratory and eye irritation cases.
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