Malaysia closes schools in several states as haze pushes air pollution to unhealthy levels

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Schools in several Malaysian states, the federal capital Kuala Lumpur and the administrative centre Putrajaya will be closed on Friday after haze from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia pushed air pollution to unhealthy levels, the education ministry said.

School closures and air quality

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said in a Facebook post late Thursday that the closures cover Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor on the Malaysian peninsula, as well as Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Schools in the Rompin district of Pahang state will also close.

“I have asked all state education departments and district education offices to continue to monitor the haze situation and take immediate action if the situation requires it,” she said.

Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index classifies readings from 101 to 200 as “unhealthy”, from 201 to 300 as “very unhealthy”, and above 300 as “hazardous”. Government data showed that 37 areas recorded unhealthy levels on Friday morning.

Regional response

Indonesia has struggled to contain forest and land fires across several provinces, resulting in thick haze in neighbouring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had agreed to take the necessary steps to combat the haze. Malaysia was ready to offer assistance, Anwar said.

Anwar also said he had asked Malaysia’s foreign minister to push for a meeting of ministers from the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN to coordinate a regional response and support Indonesia’s efforts.