Malaysia closes schools as 37 areas log unhealthy air on Oct 9
Malaysia closes schools in four states, two federal territories and Pahang’s Rompin district as smoke from Indonesian fires worsens air quality
- Malaysia's Education Ministry ordered schools to close on October 9 in several states and federal territories, including Kuala Lumpur, due to unhealthy air quality.
- The poor air quality was caused by haze drifting across the border from forest fires in Indonesia.
- On the morning of the closures, a total of 37 locations across Malaysia registered unhealthy readings on the Air Pollutant Index (API).
- In response, Malaysia's Prime Minister has offered assistance to Indonesia and called for regional talks among ASEAN nations to address the transboundary haze.
Malaysia’s Education Ministry has ordered schools in several states and the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya to close on Friday, October 9, 2026, as haze from Indonesian forest fires pushed air quality to unhealthy levels.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced the closures in a Facebook post on Thursday night. The affected areas include Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, alongside Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Schools in Rompin district in Pahang were also ordered to close as the haze affected parts of Peninsular Malaysia.
“I have instructed all state and district education offices to monitor the situation closely and be ready to take decisive action immediately if necessary,” Fadhlina said in the post.
Unhealthy air recorded in 37 Malaysian locations
Post Today reported that 37 locations across Malaysia recorded unhealthy air-quality readings on Friday morning.
Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index (API) classifies readings of 101–200 as unhealthy, 201–300 as very unhealthy and above 300 as hazardous.
Indonesian authorities are working to bring forest fires in several areas under control as smoke drifts across borders into neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore.
Anwar offers assistance and calls for ASEAN talks
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had pledged to take measures to address the problem as quickly as possible. Anwar said Malaysia was ready to provide full assistance.
Anwar also instructed Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry to press urgently for ministerial discussions within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The proposed talks would focus on a coordinated regional response to the haze and practical support for Indonesia’s efforts to combat the fires.
