KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 — Schools across Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and Putrajaya, as well as several districts in Selangor and Pahang, will be closed tomorrow following a sharp deterioration in air quality, Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek announced today.
In a statement posted on her official Facebook page, Fadhlina confirmed that all primary and secondary schools in the three states and the federal administrative centre will suspend physical classes tomorrow.
The mandatory closures also extend to schools under four District Education Offices (PPD) in Selangor: Hulu Langat, Petaling Perdana, Kuala Langat, and Sepang. In Pahang, schools under PPD Kuantan and PPD Rompin will likewise remain closed.
Schools in all other unaffected states and districts will operate as normal, the minister said.
The nationwide shutdown follows a sudden rebound in transboundary smoke pollution, with Department of Environment (DOE) data recording 22 out of 68 national monitoring stations in the unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) bracket (101 to 200) earlier today.
Johor was the hardest hit nationwide, logging eight unhealthy stations led by the country's peak reading of 170 in Kota Tinggi. In Negeri Sembilan, Seremban registered 164 and Nilai recorded 163. In Pahang, Balok Baru in Kuantan posted 162 and Rompin stood at 157, while Bukit Rambai in Melaka recorded 153. Putrajaya logged 146, nearing the 150 closure threshold.
Several affected districts had only resumed physical classroom sessions this morning after experiencing moderate air quality over the weekend.
Health and education authorities have urged parents, educators, and high-risk students with chronic respiratory conditions to wear protective face masks outdoors and closely track hourly API updates via official channels.