Schools and Childcare Centers to Close if Air Pollution Index Exceeds 200

Schools, kindergartens and childcare centers in Sarawak will close immediately if the local Air Pollution Index rises above 200, as worsening haze prompts tighter emergency measures.

Azuri Azizah Saedon, deputy director-general for development at Malaysia’s Department of Environment, said outdoor activities must stop once readings exceed 100. Schools and childcare facilities must monitor pollution continuously and prepare to close if readings approach 200.

The National Disaster Management Agency will activate disaster-management committees at district, state or national level if the index stays above 150 for more than 24 hours. Cloud-seeding operations may also be carried out when readings exceed that level, provided suitable clouds and weather conditions are present.

The ASEAN Special Meteorological Centre detected 261 hotspots in Kalimantan, 63 in Sumatra and two in Malaysia, one each in Johor and Sarawak. Moderate to thick cross-border smoke covered parts of West, Central and North Kalimantan, Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and parts of Palawan in the Philippines.

The ASEAN Secretariat has activated Level 3 alert status for the southern ASEAN region. Malaysia’s environment authorities said they would continue monitoring air quality, hotspots, weather and haze conditions. Sarawak officers are also conducting patrols and enforcement operations against open burning, while industries must reduce emissions from major sources in areas where readings exceed 300.

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Schools, kindergartens and childcare centers will close immediately when the Air Pollution Index exceeds 200, while all outdoor activities must stop when readings exceed 100.