Johor closes schools as haze drives air pollution higher in Malaysia
Haze has led to school closures in Johor and driven air pollution levels higher in the region, according to recent reports.
Johor Closes Schools to Protect Student Health
Johor education and information committee chairman Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali stated that the directive came from Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim to protect student health. The disruption forced the postponement of the Year Four Learning Matrix and other assessments across the state. Employers were asked to provide schedule flexibility for working parents managing childcare during the closures.
Thirty-Eight Areas Record Unhealthy Air Pollutant Readings
Malaysia’s Department of Environment reported that 38 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index readings as of October 8, according to the Malay Mail. Segamat recorded the highest reading at 190, followed by Seremban at 186, Nilai at 185, and Kluang at 181. Rompin in Pahang and the peat fire hotspot Johan Setia in Selangor both logged 178, while Putrajaya registered 175. The readings were driven primarily by fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, during a prolonged dry spell across the southern ASEAN region.
Department of Environment Explains Divergent Air Quality Metrics
Independent mobile applications and commercial Air Quality Index platforms displayed higher figures than official government records, prompting an explanation from the Department of Environment published by the Malay Mail. The department clarified that commercial apps often use different index scales, mathematical models, and uncalibrated sensors, alongside satellite monitoring that measures total aerosol column density across the upper atmosphere rather than ground-level air.
Sultan Ibrahim Orders School Closures as Anwar Contacts Indonesia
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar called for schools in areas with API readings between 150 and 180 to close, emphasizing protections for students, the elderly, and those with respiratory illnesses, as reported by Malaysiakini. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that he personally contacted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to address the transboundary air pollution. According to Malaysiakini, Anwar stated that Prabowo agreed to take necessary measures to tackle the issue, while Malaysia expressed readiness to assist in mitigating the impact.
Legal Action Against the Indonesian Government
An Indonesian group called the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago, alongside several other non-governmental organizations, filed a lawsuit alleging gross negligence by the state regarding the prolonged transboundary haze, as reported by Malaysiakini. The lawsuit names President Prabowo and the governor of West Kalimantan among 10 defendants. Plaintiffs demanded comprehensive environmental restoration and full funding for resident medical costs. The hearing at Pontianak was adjourned to October 21, after no defendants or representatives appeared in court.
Future Haze Management and Threshold Protocols
The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre detected 210 fire hotspots in Sumatra and 94 in Kalimantan as of October 7, amid a severe El Niño weather pattern. Under national disaster management guidelines reported by the Malay Mail, if API readings exceed the 200 threshold, schools and kindergartens are ordered to close. If levels remain above 150 for more than 24 hours, the National Disaster Management Agency convenes to assess potential cloud seeding operations, subject to suitable atmospheric moisture conditions.