Malaysia Shuts Schools As Indonesian Wildfire Smoke Sparks Regional Health Crisis

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA (Worthy News) – Malaysia closed schools across several states and its capital Friday as toxic smoke from Indonesian forest fires pushed air pollution to unhealthy levels, raising concerns about the health of millions of people across Southeast Asia.

The closures affected schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, the nearby administrative center of Putrajaya, and five states across the country’s western and southern regions, forcing students to study from home.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said schools were closed throughout Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, as well as the Rompin district of Pahang, because of unhealthy air pollution.

“I have instructed all state education departments and district education offices to continue monitoring the haze situation and take immediate action if conditions require it,” Fadhlina said.

She acknowledged the disruption to families and promised that future school closures would be announced earlier to give parents more time to prepare.

CHILDREN FACE HEALTH RISKS

Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim had urged authorities to close schools when pollution readings reached 150 or higher on the country’s Air Pollutant Index, citing concerns about children’s health.

The Education Ministry subsequently ordered schools in areas with readings above 180 to close from Friday, while those in areas where pollution remains above 150 for three consecutive days must close from Monday, October 12.

By Friday morning, dozens of areas across Malaysia had recorded unhealthy air quality, with pollution levels between 101 and 200 on the national index.

Readings above 200 are considered very unhealthy, while those exceeding 300 are classified as hazardous.

Authorities instructed affected schools to provide home-based education, allowing teachers and support staff to work remotely where necessary.

INDONESIAN FIRES SPREAD

The emergency followed weeks of forest and peatland fires across Indonesia’s Sumatra and Kalimantan regions, where smoke has spread into neighboring Malaysia and Singapore.

Indonesia is experiencing its most severe wildfire season in 11 years, with a strengthening El Niño weather pattern contributing to prolonged drought and high temperatures.

However, environmental experts say the fires are largely caused by human activities, including the deliberate burning of vegetation to clear land for agriculture and palm oil plantations.

Fire is often used because it is cheaper and faster than mechanical land clearing, despite restrictions on the practice. Authorities have also investigated cases involving illegally sold land and burning associated with road construction.

Indonesian police have arrested dozens of people suspected of starting fires, while investigators are examining whether businesses financed or ordered illegal land clearing.

PEATLAND FIRES WORSEN

The crisis has been intensified by decades of deforestation and the draining of peatlands, which are naturally waterlogged areas containing thick layers of partially decomposed vegetation.

Once drained, peat becomes highly flammable, allowing fires to burn beneath the surface for days or weeks, sometimes reigniting after firefighters believe they have extinguished them.

Environmental group Pantau Gambut estimates that about 16 million of Indonesia’s 24 million hectares of peatland have become more vulnerable to fires because of environmental damage and falling water levels.

The fires have also released enormous amounts of smoke and greenhouse gases, contributing to respiratory illnesses and deteriorating air quality across the region.

Firefighters have struggled to contain the blazes despite the deployment of thousands of personnel, aircraft and efforts to induce rainfall.

MALAYSIA SEEKS HELP

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Thursday that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had agreed to take measures to combat the haze following discussions between the two leaders.

Anwar said Malaysia was prepared to assist Indonesia and had asked his foreign minister to seek a meeting of ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, to coordinate a regional response.

The worsening pollution has also increased pressure on Indonesia’s government, with environmental organizations demanding stronger action against illegal burning and companies linked to forest destruction.

Indonesian authorities say they are continuing firefighting operations and efforts to restore damaged peatlands, although environmental campaigners warn that the fires could return while dry conditions persist.

For families across Malaysia and Indonesia, the crisis has brought growing uncertainty as children remain indoors, schools struggle to maintain lessons and communities wait for cleaner air.

The recurring disaster has also revived questions about how long Southeast Asia can continue facing hazardous smoke from fires linked to land clearing, environmental degradation and increasingly severe drought.