Minister cancels visit to Pekanbaru

PEKANBARU, Riau: The Minister of Sport and Youth, Adyaksa Dault, canceled his plan to open the Journalist's National Sports Competition in Pekanbaru on Thursday due to the haze problem.

"It has been confirmed that the Minister was unable to kick off the sport competition. His flight from Jakarta was canceled due to thick haze that is blanketing Pekanbaru airport," said a spokesman to Riau provincial administration Edward Sanger.

The competition was opened by Sofyan Djalil instead, the Minister of Information and Communication, who was in town to attend the National Media Convention. -- JP