Malaysia closes schools due to unhealthy air quality from Indonesian forest fires
Schools in several Malaysian states and its federal and administrative capitals will close on Friday, as authorities respond to dangerously high air pollution levels caused by forest fires in neighboring Indonesia, reports BritPanorama.
The states affected include Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor, alongside the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and its administrative center, Putrajaya, as confirmed by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek in a Facebook post late Thursday.
Additionally, schools in the Rompin district of Pahang will also be closed, further escalating the government’s response to the health crisis.
“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 stated.
The Air Pollutant Index (API) in Malaysia categorizes air quality as “unhealthy” from 101 to 200, “very unhealthy” from 201 to 300, and “hazardous” above 300. On Friday morning, 37 areas reported unhealthy API levels, as per government data.
Indonesia has struggled to contain widespread forest and land fires across several provinces, which have produced thick haze affecting neighboring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore.
In light of the worsening conditions, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim indicated that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had committed to taking necessary measures to mitigate the haze, with Malaysia offering assistance. Anwar has instructed the country’s foreign minister to advocate for a meeting within the Southeast Asian bloc, ASEAN, to coordinate a regional response and support Indonesia’s efforts.
As the situation unfolds, the impact on education and public health is expected to become a significant concern for the Malaysian government and citizens. The authorities continue to evaluate the hazy conditions as they remain vigilant in their response.
