Nationwide haze disruption: Fadhlina says schools in six states closed, others continue operations

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — In response to the haze disruption, Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek announced that schools in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Rompin district in Pahang will close today. Other states, including Perlis, Perak, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan, will continue their regular operations.

Fadhlina emphasized her request for State Education Departments (JPN) and District Education Offices (PPD) to closely monitor the haze conditions and take necessary actions if required. She expressed concern over the inconvenience faced by parents due to the school closures, stressing that decisions regarding school closures should be announced in advance to allow sufficient time for preparation.

Fadhlina prioritized the safety and health of students and school staff above all else. The Negeri Sembilan Education Department, Melaka JPN, Federal Territory of Putrajaya Education Department, and Kuala Lumpur school closures were based on Air Pollutant Index (API) readings from monitoring stations. In Selangor, all state religious schools and private Islamic schools were ordered to close, with teachers and implementation support group personnel permitted to work from home throughout the closure period.