Malaysia shuts schools as haze from Indonesian fires chokes Southeast Asia
Malaysia has closed schools in Kuala Lumpur and several states due to hazardous air quality caused by forest fires in Indonesia. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is seeking an urgent ASEAN meeting to address the regional haze crisis.
Why it matters
The recurring haze crisis poses significant public health risks to millions and highlights ongoing diplomatic challenges in managing transboundary environmental issues in Southeast Asia.
Kuala Lumpur’s Air Pollutant Index says air quality at unhealthy levels amid smog from forest fires.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Kuala Lumpur's skyline shrouded in haze from regional wildfires on Friday [Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters] Published On 9 Oct 2026 9 Oct 2026 Malaysia has closed schools in its capital and several states as smoke from Indonesian forest fires pushes air pollution to unhealthy levels.
Schools were ordered to close on Friday across Kuala Lumpur, the administrative capital Putrajaya and in the states of Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Selangor.
The move, which affected roughly two million students, came as Kuala Lumpur recorded an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of about 170. The API is a government-run measure of air quality.
Singapore, at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula, saw its air quality fall into the “very unhealthy” range, according to IQAir.
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Malaysia closes schools in capital, parts of country due to haze
Sweeping school closures across Malaysia as haze worsens
Haze crisis worsens as unhealthy API readings force sweeping school closures in Putrajaya, Selangor and Rompin
Haze: Slight improvement with fewer areas recording unhealthy API as of 7pm
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