Malaysia Closes Schools Across Six States as Toxic Haze Spreads From Indonesia

Malaysia has ordered schools across several states and federal territories to close as thick smoke from wildfires in neighbouring Indonesia pushes air pollution to unhealthy levels, disrupting education for more than two million students and prompting calls for a coordinated regional response.

The closures announced on Thursday took effect on Friday, October 9, covering Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, as well as the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Schools in the Rompin district of Pahang were also affected. Malaysia’s Education Minister, Fadhlina Sidek, said authorities were monitoring conditions and would take further action where necessary to protect students and school staff. (Reuters; Malay Mail)

The decision followed weeks of worsening haze across parts of Southeast Asia. Kuala Lumpur recorded an Air Pollutant Index reading of around 170, placing conditions in the “unhealthy” category under Malaysia’s system. By Friday morning, 37 locations across the country had recorded unhealthy readings, according to government data cited by Reuters. Schools in other states continued operating, although education authorities had instructed institutions to suspend outdoor activities where pollution levels exceeded the prescribed threshold. (Reuters)

The haze is linked to forest and land fires in Indonesia, particularly on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Smoke from burning vegetation and peatlands has travelled across national borders, affecting Malaysia and Singapore. Peatland fires can be particularly difficult to extinguish because vegetation and organic material can continue smouldering underground, releasing smoke long after flames on the surface appear to have subsided.

Indonesia has been grappling with an unusually severe fire season amid hot, dry conditions associated with an intense El Niño. Although Indonesian authorities recently reported a decline in fire hotspots, environmental groups have warned that the underlying risk remains high, especially in degraded peatlands where low water levels allow fires to spread and reignite. The smoke has contributed to respiratory complaints and disrupted daily life in affected Indonesian communities as well as neighbouring countries.

The crisis is also generating pressure on Indonesia’s government at home. Residents in West Kalimantan have filed a lawsuit against 27 government officials and agencies, including President Prabowo Subianto and Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, alleging negligence in preventing and managing fires that have caused prolonged smoke pollution. The plaintiffs say the crisis has harmed public health, disrupted schooling and transportation, and contributed to water shortages that have complicated firefighting. These are allegations before the courts, rather than established findings of liability.

In Malaysia, the closures reflect concern about the exposure of children and school employees to polluted air. The Education Ministry had already directed schools to suspend outdoor sports and gatherings in areas where pollution readings exceeded 100. Under the country’s guidelines, readings above 200 are considered very unhealthy, while readings above 300 are classified as hazardous. Authorities have also urged schools to monitor local conditions and prepare for further changes if the haze persists.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has raised the issue directly with Indonesia’s president, saying Jakarta had agreed to take the necessary steps to address the smoke. Malaysia has offered assistance and is seeking a meeting of ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to coordinate the regional response. Anwar has also highlighted the public-health consequences of the worsening haze, which has affected communities well beyond the areas where the fires originated.

The consequences are extending beyond classrooms. Singapore has also experienced deteriorating air quality, with pollution reaching the “very unhealthy” range in some readings. The haze has raised concerns about outdoor events and the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix weekend, although organisers have said the race is expected to proceed while authorities monitor conditions and prepare contingency measures.

The recurring haze problem has long challenged Southeast Asian governments, particularly during prolonged dry seasons when fires linked to land clearing and peatland degradation can spread across large areas. Regional agreements have sought to strengthen cooperation against transboundary haze, but the latest episode again highlights the difficulty of translating commitments into rapid prevention and effective enforcement. Smoke does not stop at national borders, and the health and economic consequences are shared across the region.

For the millions of students now staying home, the immediate priority is safer air and a return to normal lessons. But the broader significance goes beyond temporary school closures: the crisis demonstrates how environmental damage in one country can disrupt education, public health, transport and economic activity across an entire region. Unless Indonesia and its neighbours can strengthen fire prevention, restore vulnerable peatlands and coordinate more effectively during extreme dry conditions, the same emergency is likely to return, leaving communities repeatedly exposed to smoke generated far beyond their control.