For middle-class families, having to take their children out of school may not seem like a major problem but for poorer families, schools are a place to provide their children with a safe environment and proper nutrition.

With the Education Ministry's abrupt announcement that all government schools will close effective tomorrow for the rest of the year, former education minister Maszlee Malik (above) expects B40 families to be hardest hit.

The Simpang Renggam MP hopes that the Education Ministry will not simply see the issue as an operational one but take proactive measures to cushion the impact for children from the most vulnerable families.

He pointed out that some 600,000 schoolchildren rely on the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT), which provides free food to children...