Malaysia axes classes as haze worsens air quality

Schools ‌in several Malaysian states as well as its federal and administrative capitals will be closed on Friday, the education ministry said, after smoky haze caused by ⁠forest fires in Indonesia pushed air pollution to unhealthy levels. The areas affected include the states of Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor on the Malaysian peninsular, as well as the country's capital Kuala Lumpur and its administrative centre Putrajaya, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said in a Facebook post ⁠late on Thursday. Schools will also be closed ⁠in the Rompin ⁠district of Pahang state, she said. "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 air quality as "unhealthy" from ⁠101 to 200, "very unhealthy" from 201 to 300, and "hazardous" above 300. On Friday morning, 37 areas recorded unhealthy API levels, according to government data. Indonesia has struggled to contain forest and land fires across several provinces that have led to thick haze in nations such as Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysia's Prime ⁠Minister Anwar ‌Ibrahim said on Thursday Indonesian president Prabowo ‌Subianto had agreed to take necessary steps to combat the haze, with Malaysia ‌ready to offer assistance. Anwar 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. In Singapore, the motorsport's governing FIA said haze blanketing the city-state could lead to restrictions on entertainment and other outdoor activities at this weekend's Grand Prix, but the race itself will not be affected. "Air quality levels are being monitored by the relevant local authorities, and appropriate contingency measures are in place," an FIA spokesperson said. Singapore’s tourism board said it was monitoring pollution levels and would inform those within the circuit of the latest haze developments and make medical assistance and N95 masks accessible on-site if required. (Reuters) Edited by Edmond Fong

2026-10-09 13:09:00