Schools in Several Malaysian States to Close Due to Haze
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Education Ministry has announced that schools in multiple states and key cities will be closed on Friday. This decision comes as a result of unhealthy air pollution caused by smoky haze from forest fires in nearby Indonesia.
The affected areas include the states of Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor, as well as the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, and the administrative center, Putrajaya. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek shared this update in a Facebook post late Thursday. Additionally, schools in the Rompin district of Pahang will also remain closed.
Fadhlina emphasized the importance of monitoring the haze situation closely, urging state and district education offices to take swift action if conditions worsen.
According to Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index, air quality is categorized as “unhealthy” when levels are between 101 and 200, “very unhealthy” from 201 to 300, and “hazardous” when it exceeds 300. Currently, 37 areas in Malaysia are showing unhealthy air quality levels.
Indonesia is currently facing difficulties in managing forest and land fires, which have contributed to the thick haze affecting Malaysia and Singapore.
In response to the situation, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has agreed to take the necessary measures to address the haze issue. Anwar also asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs to arrange a meeting of ASEAN ministers to coordinate regional efforts and support Indonesia in tackling the problem.
