Malaysia closes schools in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Pahang, and Melaka amid hazardous haze conditions

The education ministry has set closure thresholds based on API readings, with affected schools moving to home-based learning and teachers allowed to work from home.

Malaysia’s Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced school closures in Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, Pahang, Melaka, and Selangor amid the haze situation affecting the country.

On 8 October 2026, the ministry issued a statement acknowledging the concern and directives of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, regarding the safety and health of students amid the haze.

To protect students and education workers from potential health effects associated with haze exposure, the ministry outlined two closure thresholds.

• From 9 October 2026 (Friday): All educational institutions under the MOE in areas recording API readings above 180, based on data from the Department of Environment (DOE), must close.
  
• From 12 October 2026 (Monday): Educational institutions in areas recording API readings above 150 for three consecutive days must close.

Affected schools and educational institutions are required to implement teaching and learning from home (PdPR).

The ministry said schools must ensure lessons continue through appropriate arrangements, taking into account students’ abilities, access to learning resources and needs, as well as teachers’ readiness.

Teachers and members of the Implementation Group (AKP) are also permitted to work from home (BDR) throughout the closure period, subject to the Education Minister’s consideration.

The State Education Departments (JPN), District Education Offices (PPD) and educational institutions under the ministry must continuously monitor API readings and take appropriate action when the specified thresholds are exceeded.

Separately, the Department of Education of the Federal Territory of Putrajaya has urged parents and guardians to stay alert to official announcements and cooperate with the authorities to safeguard children’s safety, health and well-being throughout the haze situation.

The MOE said it would continue monitoring developments to protect the safety and health of students and education workers.

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