{
  "id": 12511181,
  "title": "Batu Pahat schools shut as haze worsens across Malaysia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/batu-pahat-schools-shut-as-haze-worsens-across-malaysia",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T00:38:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/128063/batu-pahat-schools-shut-as-haze-worsens-across-malaysia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Batu Pahat, Malaysia, closed all schools, kindergartens, and nurseries after the Air Pollutant Index (API) in the district surpassed 200, marking an unhealthy level. This followed the API reading of 203 at 8pm the previous day, the highest among nationwide unhealthy categories. District Officer Kamalludin Jamal cited the National Haze Action Plan and education ministry guidelines that dictate school closures based on API readings and authority directives. Schools must now transition to Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) if directed by the Education Ministry, Johor's Education Department, or Batu Pahat District Education Office. Parents are to be informed via official channels about the new learning arrangements and student assignments. With API readings falling below the very unhealthy threshold but remaining unhealthy, schools in Batu Pahat will remain closed for today. Other areas in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Selangor, Pahang, and Perak also reported hazardous or unhealthy air quality. The public is advised to seek information from official government sources.",
  "summary": "ALL schools, kindergartens and nurseries in Batu Pahat have been ordered to close today after the Air Pollutant Index (API) in the district exceeded 200, as worsening haze pushed 35 areas nationwide into the unhealthy category. Batu Pahat recorded an...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}