Malaysia Haze 2026: School Closure Rules and API Levels
Malaysia's Education Ministry said on Oct. 8 that schools and other institutions under it must close in areas where the Air Pollutant Index (API) is above 180, starting Friday, Oct. 9. From Monday, Oct. 12, they must also close where the API stays above 150 for three days in a row, Bernama reported (in Malay). The ministry said it was following a call by the King, Sultan Ibrahim, on students' safety and health.
Closed schools switch to home-based teaching and learning, and teachers and support staff may work from home, subject to the Education Minister's consideration, The Star reported. State education departments, district offices and schools must keep watching the readings and act when they pass these levels, the ministry said. Negeri Sembilan, for example, said all ministry institutions in the state would close on Oct. 9 (in Malay).
School closure rules
| API reading | What the ministry says |
|---|---|
| Above 180 | Institutions in the area close, starting Fri., Oct. 9. |
| Above 150 for three days in a row | Institutions in the area close, starting Mon., Oct. 12. |
The readings are the ones the Department of Environment (DOE) records for the area. The earlier guidance, as quoted by Sarawak's education department on Sept. 12 (in Malay), had these steps:
- Above 100: all activities outside the classroom involving students stop.
- Above 200: all schools in the area close immediately.
- Above 500: teachers and school staff do not need to attend.
- Schools reopen once the reading is back below 200.
The Sarawak department also said parents may keep their children at home if they are worried about their health, as long as they tell the school.
What the API numbers mean
| API | Level |
|---|---|
| 0 to 50 | Good |
| 51 to 100 | Moderate |
| 101 to 200 | Unhealthy |
| 201 to 300 | Very unhealthy |
| Above 300 | Hazardous |
These bands are the DOE's, as The Star lists them. The new closure triggers of 150 and 180 both sit inside the "unhealthy" band. Singapore's PSI works on a similar scale, and its National Environment Agency publishes the readings.
Readings on Oct. 8
- As of 7 pm, 36 areas recorded unhealthy readings and 32 moderate ones, from the DOE's APIMS portal, The Star reported.
- The highest were Segamat in Johor (190), Seremban (189) and Nilai (183) in Negeri Sembilan, Kluang in Johor (180), Rompin in Pahang (178) and Johan Setia in Selangor (178). Putrajaya recorded 175.
- The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) says the haze comes from 238 hotspots in Kalimantan and Sumatra and four in Sabah and Sarawak. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto agreed on a phone call to take the necessary steps, and that Malaysia has stepped up cloud seeding, The Star reported.
Where to check
- Air quality: the DOE's Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) has the official readings by station.
- Your school: your state education department, district education office and school announce closures. The ministry's rule is set by the DOE readings in your area.
- Regional haze: the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre shows the regional haze map and hotspots. It said Alert Level 3 was active for the southern ASEAN region and that the map is updated at 0300 and 0900 UTC.
- Weather: MetMalaysia.
Health advice
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad advised children, pregnant women, the elderly and other high-risk groups to wear face masks if they have symptoms, avoid outdoor activities and drink enough water, and said the ministry was preparing for more asthma and upper respiratory infection cases, The Star reported on Aug. 26.
Rules and readings are as of the evening of Oct. 8, 2026, Malaysia time. Closures and readings change quickly, so check the DOE portal and your state education department. This page will be updated.
