{
  "id": 15602191,
  "title": "Anwar: School closure guidelines to be reviewed to ensure learning continues",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/anwar-school-closure-guidelines-to-be-reviewed-to-ensure-learning",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T12:12:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1559169/anwar-school-closure-guidelines-be-reviewed-ensure-learning-continues"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government will review school closure guidelines following the haze crisis, aiming to ensure uninterrupted learning during extended school shutdowns. The haze, primarily caused by forest and peatland fires in Indonesia since August, has led to numerous school closures and increased respiratory ailments among children. Anwar emphasized that children's health should be the top priority while preventing educational disruptions. The National Disaster Management Agency, the Department of Environment, and the Malaysian Meteorological Department will collaborate with the Education and Health Ministries to enhance the National Haze Action Plan, including securing funding for cloud seeding operations to combat the haze. The meeting also addressed preparations for the upcoming Northeast Monsoon, which could result in heavy rainfall and heightened flood risks, as well as the looming threat of a potentially severe Super El Niño, which could exacerbate droughts, floods, and extreme heat globally. Anwar stressed the importance of bolstering the readiness of frontline agencies, with the National Disaster Management Agency acting as the central coordinator for policies and operations through the Central Disaster Operations Control Centre. He urged the federal and state governments, the private sector, volunteers, and communities to collaborate in enhancing disaster preparedness, safeguarding lives, and ensuring that assistance reaches those in need.",
  "summary": "Kalbana Perimbanayagam",
  "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."
}