Malaysia raises Air Pollutant Index threshold for school closures to 200

Education Minister Fadhlina Pandaman has raised the Air Pollutant Index (API) threshold for school closures to 200, signalling a recalibration of the government's approach to managing air quality disruptions in the education sector. The adjustment brings the ministry's guidelines into alignment with the provisions outlined in the National Haze Action Plan, ensuring consistency across government responses to air pollution events. The new threshold marks a departure from more conservative closure protocols previously in effect, reflecting updated assessments of health and safety standards for students and staff. Schools across Malaysia will now operate under these revised parameters during periods of elevated air pollution. The decision comes as the country continues to develop coordinated strategies for managing haze events, particularly during seasonal spikes in regional air pollution.