JOHOR has extended the closure of all schools and educational institutions for another five days from Oct 12 to 16 as persistent haze continues to pose health risks, while air quality across Selangor improved to moderate levels on Sunday morning.
Johor state Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali said the decision was based on current air quality trends, potential health risks to students and education personnel, and statistics on the effects of air pollution.
He said forecast wind movements from Kalimantan, Indonesia, between Oct 13 and 15 could carry transboundary pollution into Johor, further affecting air quality.
High concentrations of pollutant particles and stagnant atmospheric conditions could also prolong the haze, with air pollution index (API) readings reported at between 170 and 180.
Home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) will continue throughout the closure, while assessments will be postponed and rescheduled by the Johor Education Department.
In Selangor, all six air quality monitoring stations recorded moderate API readings as of 7.29am on Sunday, with Petaling Jaya registering the highest at 89.
Data from the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) showed Shah Alam at 87, Johan Setia at 86, Klang at 78, Kuala Selangor at 72 and Banting at 61.
No area in Selangor was recording unhealthy air quality at the time, although 18 other locations nationwide had API readings above 100.
Pasir Gudang in Johor recorded the country’s highest reading at 182, followed by Larkin at 179, Tangkak at 167, Kota Tinggi at 166 and Segamat at 164.
Other locations with unhealthy air quality included Cheras in Kuala Lumpur at 160, Balok Baru in Kuantan at 158 and Kemaman in Terengganu at 155.
Under APIMS classifications, API readings of 51 to 100 are considered moderate, while readings of 101 to 200 are classified as unhealthy.
Schools in Selangor had previously been ordered to close from Oct 9 until further notice because of the haze. Home-based learning was introduced to minimise disruption to pupils’ education, while religious schools under the Selangor Islamic Religious Department were also ordered to close until further notice.
The public is advised to monitor the latest readings through the official APIMS portal, while parents should follow announcements from the relevant education authorities on when schools can reopen. - October 11, 2026
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