August 21, 2026 | 07:14 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sarawak has ordered schools in several districts to close for two days as worsening haze affects air quality across the state. The move is aimed at protecting students from unhealthy air pollution.
According to The Strait Times, the closures affect schools in Kuching, Padawan, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Simunjan, Serian, Sri Aman, Lubok Antu and Betong. Nearly 200,000 students are affected, with lessons continuing through home-based learning.
Serian recorded Sarawak’s highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 193, followed by Kuching at 190 and Samarahan at 173. However, as of 11 a.m. on Friday, API levels in Serian rose to 239. An API reading above 200 is considered “very unhealthy” under Malaysia’s air-quality classification.
The school closures came as haze conditions deteriorated across parts of Sarawak. Schools in Serian had also been closed earlier after air pollution levels briefly exceeded the unhealthy threshold.
As CNA reported, authorities have linked the haze to widespread wildfires in Kalimantan. Sarawak’s environment board reported thousands of hotspots in Kalimantan between August 1 and 19, far exceeding the number recorded in Sarawak.
Officials warned that continued dry weather could worsen fires and increase the risk of transboundary haze. Smoke from West Kalimantan has already drifted into parts of western Sarawak.
Read: Indonesia Boosts Cloud Seeding Against Kalimantan Wildfires
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Seven Riau Islands Fishermen Reportedly Detained in Malaysia
18 hari lalu
Indonesia is verifying reports that Riau Islands fishermen were detained in Malaysia after their boats reportedly drifted into Sarawak waters.
Indonesia Eyes New Cross-Border Bus Route to Malaysia's Sarawak
39 hari lalu
Indonesia and Sarawak, Malaysia, have agreed to open a new cross-border bus route in a bid to improve connectivity.
Scoot Connects Singapore to Sarawak's Sibu with New Jets
11 Juli 2024
Low-cost carrier Scoot Airlines has launched a new route directly connecting Singapore to Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching Repatriates Migrant Workers, Citizens Stranded in Malaysia
6 Maret 2024
The Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching repatriated nine Indonesian citizens and migrant workers who were stranded in Sarawak.
Indonesia-Malaysia to Collaborate on EV Battery Factory Development
29 September 2023
Indonesia will sign an MoU with Malaysia to develop an electric car battery factory.
It Takes Commitment to Preserve a Language
17 Agustus 2022
Malaysia's Indigenous language Bidayuh is declining in use and it will take a concerted effort to ensure competing languages don't cause its demise.
West Kalimantan Promotes Tourism in Rainforest World Music Festival
19 Juni 2022
West Kalimantan Province promoted its tourism attractions in a tourism exhibition held in conjunction with the 2022 Rainforest World Music Festival
Malaysia Extends Covid-19 Emergency Status in Sarawak
31 Juli 2021
Malaysia extended a state of emergency in Sarawak until February 2022 to suspend regional elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
