{
  "id": 12616856,
  "title": "Public varsities, colleges told to decide on their own as haze worsens",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/public-varsities-colleges-told-to-decide-on-their-own-as-haze-worsens-12616856",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T10:43:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/07/public-varsities-colleges-told-to-decide-on-their-own-as-haze-worsens"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The higher education minister of Malaysia, Zambry Abd Kadir, has instructed public universities, colleges, and community schools to determine their own response to the worsening air pollution crisis. Speaking at the Malaysia Global Civilisational Initiative Summit 2026, the minister emphasized the institutions' autonomy in making decisions regarding their students' education.\n\nIn the event that students are unable to attend campus due to the deteriorating air quality, universities, polytechnics, and community colleges may utilize alternative learning methods such as online learning, according to Zambry Abd Kadir. This directive comes after air pollutant index readings in certain districts reached hazardous levels, with an API reading of 203 in Batu Pahat, Johor. The air quality scale classifies readings from 0 to 50 as good, 51 to 100 as moderate, and 201 to 300 as very unhealthy.",
  "summary": "Higher education minister Zambry Abd Kadir says they need to assess the situation themselves with regard to how learning should be carried out.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Public varsities, colleges told to decide on their own as haze worsens",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/public-varsities-colleges-told-to-decide-on-their-own-as-haze-worsens",
        "published": "2026-10-07T10:43:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}