KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- All Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) candidates will be screened for their body temperatures as part of preventive measures against Influenza A(H1N1), Education Director-General Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said.

He said that the move was similar to the one taken during Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination in September.

"Students with body temperatures of 37.8 degrees Celsius and above, will sit for the examination in separate rooms," he told Bernama when contacted today.

He said that the ministry had supplied thermometers, sanitizers and surgical masks in all 3,496 examination centres nationwide, to be distributed to the candidates.

"It is not compulsory to wear these masks and they can take them off if they are not comfortable with it," he said.

Malaysian Examination Board Director-General Datuk Dr Salbiah Ismail said as of this afternoon, the board's PMR operations centre had not received any reports of candidates with H1N1 symptoms who would have to take the examination in hospitals.

The operations room operates 24 hours and can be contacted at 03-88893601, 88893809, 88893582, 88893520, 88893551, 88893030, 88893095 or facsimile at 03-88893010, 88895561 or 88893445.

A total of 475,182 candidates will sit for the examination, of whom 442,611 are candidates from schools fully-aided by the government.