Schools across affected districts suspend physical classes for two days as worsening haze threatens students’ health.
Worsening haze has begun disrupting daily life in Sarawak, with authorities ordering schools in affected districts to halt in-person classes as deteriorating air quality raises concerns over children’s exposure to unhealthy pollution.
Schools Ordered to Close for Two Days
Schools in several affected districts across Sarawak were ordered to close for two days as haze conditions worsened. The move was intended to reduce students’ exposure to unhealthy air while authorities continued monitoring pollution levels across the Malaysian state.
Six Districts Covered by Closure Measures
The Straits Times reported that the measures covered schools in six Sarawak districts, while earlier reporting cited four districts affected by closures. The difference reflects updates as authorities expanded their response in line with changing air-quality conditions.
Air Quality Reaches Unhealthy Levels
The closures followed deteriorating readings on Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index (API). Under Malaysia’s classification, readings between 101 and 200 are considered unhealthy, with prolonged exposure potentially posing greater risks to children, older people, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
Students Shift Away From Physical Classes
Affected schools were instructed to suspend face-to-face teaching during the closure period. Education authorities are seeking to minimize disruption to learning while ensuring students do not need to spend extended periods outdoors traveling to and from school during poor air-quality conditions.
Haze Returns as Regional Fires Raise Concern
Sarawak’s school closures come amid renewed concerns over forest and land fires across parts of Southeast Asia during dry conditions. Malaysia and Indonesia have also strengthened cooperation on hotspot monitoring as authorities seek to prevent fires and smoke from developing into a larger transboundary haze emergency.
The two-day school closures in Sarawak show the immediate consequences of worsening air pollution, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups. For Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, the latest haze conditions reinforce the need for coordinated hotspot monitoring, rapid fire suppression, and long-term prevention to reduce the risk of another widespread Southeast Asian haze crisis.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , The Star (2026)
Keywords: Sarawak Haze, Malaysia Haze, Sarawak School Closures, Air Pollution Index, Unhealthy Air Quality, Southeast Asia Haze
