Sarawak orders schools to halt outdoor activities amid unhealthy API readings

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Schools in Sarawak have been instructed to cease all outdoor activities for students in regions where the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading surpasses 100. Director Omar Mahli of the Sarawak Education Department emphasized to Utusan Malaysia that educational institutions and district offices should prioritize student well-being and health due to high temperatures and haze.

He advised halting outdoor activities when weather conditions are excessively hot and monitoring potential health risks from such exposure. For areas with API readings above 100, all outdoor activities involving students must be halted, he added.

Dr Les Anak Met, deputy director of the Sarawak Education Department's School Management Sector, stressed the importance of ongoing API monitoring and managing outdoor and co-curricular activities accordingly. Student and staff health, especially for those with asthma and other respiratory issues, should be a top priority. Schools are required to maintain clear communication with parents and ensure district education offices monitor their respective schools and provide updates to the department, he stated.

All district education offices and schools have been urged to stay vigilant about haze conditions in their areas, follow authorities' directives, and take proactive measures based on current circumstances. The 53rd Sarawak Schools Sports Council (MSSS) Athletics Championship 2026, set to take place at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Stadium from August 10 to 14, has been postponed due to unhealthy API readings in Samarahan.

As of 2pm today, 11 areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy API readings, with the highest reading of 190 at the Serian IPD air quality monitoring station. Ten other monitoring stations also recorded unhealthy readings, with levels ranging from 146 to 190. Sibu reported an API reading of 154, while Miri had a reading of 146.