Malaysia has closed schools in several states and federal territories as smoke from forest and peatland fires in neighboring Indonesia pushed air pollution to unhealthy levels across the region. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek ordered school closures in four states and two federal territories, along with a partial closure in Pahang.
The decision came as Kuala Lumpur recorded an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of around 170 on Friday, placing the Malaysian capital among the world’s most polluted cities.
The haze has affected the region for more than a month, with toxic smoke contributing to a sharp rise in respiratory complaints. Experts have linked the worsening pollution to forest fires fueled by an intensified El Niño weather phenomenon.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had discussed the situation with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who agreed to take necessary measures to address the fires.
Anwar also asked Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan to contact the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretariat to arrange an urgent meeting of regional environmental ministers. Malaysia has also increased cloud-seeding efforts to encourage rainfall and improve air quality.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s air quality also deteriorated, with IQAir recording an Air Quality Index reading of 205, a level classified as very unhealthy.
The post Malaysia Closes Schools as Indonesian Fires Worsen Haze appeared first on ProPakistani.
