{
  "id": 13905196,
  "title": "Singapore rolls out haze subsidies as Malaysia extends school closures",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/singapore-rolls-out-haze-subsidies-as-malaysia-extends-school-closures-13905196",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T07:28:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/10/12/singapore-rolls-out-haze-subsidies-as-malaysia-extends-school-closures"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore has introduced subsidies for haze-related medical treatment and closed schools in certain regions as the country grapples with poor air quality caused by fires in nearby Indonesia. The haze in Singapore has ranked the world's most polluted city according to air quality monitor IQAir. The fires on Borneo and Sumatra islands, exacerbated by an intensified El Nino weather phenomenon, are emitting toxic haze, leading to tens of thousands of respiratory illness cases. The Singapore government activated schemes offering affordable care for haze-related conditions, capped at S$10 for most Singaporeans and S$5 for senior citizens aged 67 and above. In Malaysia, schools reopened in most areas as air quality improved mildly but remained closed in Johor, as well as parts of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Indonesia typically battles wildfires during the dry season; however, this year's fires are more intense due to the strong El Nino, which is one of the strongest since records began four decades ago. Slash-and-burn land-clearing practices are also contributing to the worsening situation. The transboundary haze has disrupted regional travel, with Malaysian low-cost carrier Firefly canceling flights between Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang and Singapore's Seletar Airport from Saturday to Monday out of precaution.",
  "summary": "Singapore activated its haze subsidy scheme, capping treatment costs at S$10 for eligible residents, while schools in parts of Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor remained closed as a precaution.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Malaysia education minister defends day-to-day decisions on haze-related school closures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/malaysia-education-minister-defends-day-to-day-decisions-on-haze",
        "published": "2026-10-12T06:35:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Singapore rolls out haze subsidies as Malaysia extends school closures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/singapore-rolls-out-haze-subsidies-as-malaysia-extends-school-closures",
        "published": "2026-10-12T07:07:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Singapore rolls out haze subsidies as Malaysia extends school closures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/singapore-rolls-out-haze-subsidies-as-malaysia-extends-school-closures-13907721",
        "published": "2026-10-12T07:28:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Jakarta Post",
        "title": "Singapore rolls out haze subsidies as Malaysia extends school closures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/singapore-rolls-out-haze-subsidies-as-malaysia-extends-school-closures-13933394",
        "published": "2026-10-12T10:13:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}