GEORGE TOWN, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- The Penang State-Level National Sports Day (HSN) 2026 celebration scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed following hazy conditions and an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading exceeding 100, which is classified as unhealthy.
State Youth, Sports, and Health Committee Chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said the programme, which was scheduled to take place at the Jalan Betek Sports and Recreation Complex in Central Seberang Perai, will be held on a new date to be announced later.
"This decision is in line with the Haze Management Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) on October 8 last year, which stipulates that appropriate action must be taken regarding the organisation of sports and recreational activities when air quality conditions reach a level that could affect health.
"The Penang State-Level National Sports Day Main Committee has also taken into account current developments and the monitoring of API readings from the relevant authorities," he said in a statement today.
Gooi noted that mass sports and recreational activities in open areas have the potential to increase participants' exposure to air pollution, especially when API readings are at an unhealthy level.
He said the main committee understands that this decision may cause inconvenience to participants, agencies, sports associations, communities, and all parties who have made preparations to make the programme a success.
According to the Department of Environment's (DOE) Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal, three areas in Penang recorded unhealthy API readings today, namely Seberang Perai (156), Minden (155), and Seberang Jaya (153).
-- BERNAMA