Malaysia has closed schools in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and other parts of the country due to severe air pollution caused by forest fires in Indonesia. This action was taken following an increase in air pollution levels on Friday, and the Minister of Education, Fadhlina Sidek, announced that all state education departments and district education offices are required to monitor the pollution situation and take immediate action if necessary.
School Closures and Future Planning
Fadhlina Sidek stated in a statement that schools have been divided into two categories: some are fully closed while others will operate on a limited basis. She also emphasized that in the future, all decisions regarding school closures will be communicated to parents in advance so they have sufficient time to prepare.
The air quality in Kuala Lumpur remains at "unhealthy" levels, and according to an IQAir report, the city is among the most polluted in the world. On Friday, Kuala Lumpur recorded an Air Pollution Index (API) of 170, while values above 150 are considered hazardous.
Officials' Reactions and Challenges Ahead
Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, also stated on Thursday that schools should be closed whenever air quality readings reach 150 or higher. API values above 200 are considered very unhealthy, and above 300 are deemed hazardous. According to IQAir data, Kuala Lumpur is currently the second most polluted city in the world, only behind Singapore.
Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, also announced on Thursday that Prabowo Subianto, the President of Indonesia, has agreed to take measures to address the pollution caused by the fires, but did not provide further details on this matter.
Forest fires in Indonesia have been ongoing since August and have affected millions. Given the 1200-kilometer distance between Kuala Lumpur and Indonesia, these fires have directly impacted Malaysia's air quality and raised serious public health concerns.
