Malaysia’s Sarawak shuts almost 600 schools as haze hits ‘very unhealthy’ level

Asean’s consensus-based approach limits the effectiveness of a regional response to tackle the haze, a climate expert says

Transboundary haze has again disrupted daily life on Malaysian Borneo, forcing nearly 600 schools in Sarawak to shut on Friday as air pollution in parts of the state reached “very unhealthy” levels.

The closures affecting almost 200,000 pupils were the latest disruptions caused by Southeast Asia’s persistent haze problem, which flares during dry spells when forest and peatland fires – often linked to land clearing for agriculture and plantations – send harmful smoke across national borders.

Several other districts in Sarawak recorded unhealthy levels, with Sri Aman, Kuching and Samarahan above 180, Sarikei at 172, and Sibu and Bintulu exceeding 150.

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy and anything above 300 hazardous.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Sarawak Education Department said the closure affected 509 primary schools and 82 secondary schools.