Malaysia’s haze situation has worsened again, with 22 monitoring stations recording unhealthy air quality on Monday (Oct 12), raising fresh concerns as students in several states prepare to return to classrooms.
Data from Malaysia’s Department of Environment showed that only three of the country’s 68 monitoring stations recorded good air quality as of 8.46am, while 42 stations registered moderate readings.
Johor was the worst-affected state, accounting for eight locations with unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings. Kota Tinggi recorded the country’s highest reading at 170, followed by Pasir Gudang at 168 and Pengerang at 164.
Other affected locations included Larkin at 160, Tangkak at 156, Batu Pahat and Kluang at 152, and Segamat at 129.
The readings fall within Malaysia’s unhealthy API category, which ranges from 101 to 200.
Several states see air quality deteriorate overnight
The haze also affected Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu, Melaka and parts of the Greater Klang Valley.
Seremban recorded an API reading of 164, while Nilai reached 163 and Port Dickson registered 137.
In Pahang, Balok Baru in Kuantan recorded 162, Rompin reached 157 and Indera Mahkota registered 142. Terengganu also reported unhealthy readings in Kemaman, Paka and Kuala Terengganu.
In Melaka, Bukit Rambai’s reading climbed sharply to 153, while Alor Gajah recorded 101.
Putrajaya registered 146, while Johan Setia in Selangor reached 129 and Cheras in Kuala Lumpur recorded 123.
The figures highlighted how quickly air quality could deteriorate after conditions appeared to improve the previous day.
School reopenings face renewed uncertainty
The worsening haze comes as educational institutions in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Putrajaya, as well as selected areas of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, were scheduled to resume normal classroom operations on Monday.
Authorities had made the reopening decisions based on air quality readings taken on Sunday afternoon, when several locations recorded moderate pollution levels.
In Melaka, Alor Gajah recorded an API of 91 on Sunday, while Bukit Rambai registered 94. By Monday morning, however, the readings had climbed to 101 and 153 respectively.
Putrajaya also saw its API reading rise from 70 on Sunday afternoon to 146 the following morning, approaching the 150 threshold used in school-closure decisions.
Not all areas experienced worsening conditions. Cheras improved from an API reading of 152 on Sunday to 123 on Monday morning.
Schools under the Bangsar/Pudu District Education Office in Kuala Lumpur had been ordered to remain closed, while institutions under the Hulu Langat, Gombak and Petaling Perdana district education offices in Selangor were also affected by closure orders.
Parents and students were advised to follow announcements from education authorities, as decisions on school operations depend on local air quality and official directives.
Health precautions urged as haze persists
Health and education authorities have advised parents, students experiencing respiratory symptoms and other vulnerable groups to take precautions, including wearing protective face masks where appropriate.
Residents are also encouraged to monitor official air quality updates and limit exposure to haze when pollution levels are unhealthy.
The latest deterioration comes amid a broader regional haze episode linked to forest and land fires in neighbouring Indonesia. Malaysia has also called for greater regional cooperation to address transboundary haze, a recurring problem affecting public health and the environment across Southeast Asia.
With air quality fluctuating between moderate and unhealthy levels, the situation remains a concern for families and schools, particularly in areas where pollution has risen sharply overnight.
