Areas with temperature exceeding 40°C for three consecutive days will be declared as Stage 3 heat wave emergency areas in view of the current extreme hot weather, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations announced.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Wifred Madius Tangau, said with the announcement, the Technical Committee Tackling the El Nino and Dry Weather, which comprised officers from the ministry and other relevant agencies including Health Ministry and Education Ministry, would discuss whether or not schools should be temporarily closed.

“We cannot simply order for temporary closure of schools.

It must be done based on information obtained from the Meteorological Department and advice from the Health Ministry.

“The (temperature) data will be given to all the committees involved at 4pm daily and it is up to the Education Ministry to decide,” he told reporters after attending the CyberSecurity Malaysia 2015 appreciation programme here on Tuesday.

He said the decision would also be made based on locations identified to be most affected by the extremely hot and dry weather.