Malaysia Closes Schools Due to Haze from Indonesian Forest Fires

Toxic smoke from forest fires in Indonesia has led to unhealthy air pollution levels, prompting Malaysian authorities to implement emergency measures. Schools in Kuala Lumpur and other regions were closed on Friday due to the haze caused by these fires. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek stated, "I have instructed all state education departments and district education offices to continue monitoring the haze situation and take immediate action if conditions require it." The minister specified which schools would be fully closed and which would operate partially across five states and two federal territories. She also mentioned that future decisions regarding school closures would be communicated in advance to allow parents adequate preparation time. Air quality measurements in Kuala Lumpur remain at unhealthy levels, with Swiss air-quality monitor IQAir ranking it among the most polluted cities globally. Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim commented that schools should close whenever air-quality readings reach 150 or higher on the Air Pollutant Index (API). API readings above 200 are considered very unhealthy, while levels above 300 are deemed hazardous. Readings exceeding 500 indicate a local emergency. On Friday, Kuala Lumpur recorded an API reading of 170. The city is approximately 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) from Indonesia, where forest fires have affected millions since August. According to IQAir, Kuala Lumpur is currently the world's second most polluted city, following Singapore. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has agreed to take measures to address the haze, although further details were not provided.