Schools Closed Across Malaysian Sarawak as Haze from Indonesian Wildfires Reaches Critical Levels

Emergency declared in Serian Division after air pollution index hits 519, forcing hundreds of schools online

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By LineZotpaper

Published7 September 2026

Read Time2 min

Hundreds of schools across the Malaysian state of Sarawak have closed due to hazardous haze from ongoing wildfires in neighboring Indonesia, with authorities declaring an emergency in Serian Division after air pollution levels peaked at 519—well above the threshold considered dangerous to human health.

The Malaysian state of Sarawak, located on the island of Borneo, is experiencing some of the worst air pollution it has seen this decade. On September 3, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's office announced that King Sultan Ibrahim had consented to the declaration of an emergency throughout Serian Division in southwestern Sarawak, following haze conditions that had reached levels hazardous to public health.

The Air Pollutant Index (API) in Serian soared to 519 on Friday, prompting the request from the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee. The Malaysian government considers API readings above 300 to be hazardous, while levels beyond 500 justify an emergency declaration. The Malaysia Meteorological Department told Channel News Asia that this is Sarawak's worst haze episode since 2019.

Under the emergency measures, government and private offices in the town of Serian are closed, along with plantations, construction sites, and quarries. The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee also announced a three-day cloud-seeding operation, which was subsequently extended.

On Friday, authorities announced that 647 schools across 12 districts, including Serian and the state capital Kuching, would close this week, shifting lessons to an online format. A further 54 primary schools and nine secondary schools in Bintulu Division, further east, will also shut their doors due to the haze, according to the Sarawak Education Department.

The deteriorating air quality has disrupted daily life across the state. Outdoor events, including carnivals, community runs, and sporting activities, have been cancelled, while poor visibility has disrupted some flights.

The haze crisis is part of a recurring pattern of transboundary pollution in Southeast Asia, driven by agricultural fires for monocultures such as palm oil, maize, paper pulp, and sugar, compounded by vehicle and industrial emissions.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Direct health threat: API readings above 500 create immediate respiratory and cardiovascular risks for millions of residents, particularly children and the elderly.
Economic disruption: Closures of schools, businesses, and construction sites, plus flight disruptions, impose significant costs on Sarawak's economy.
Recurring regional crisis: This is Sarawak's worst haze since 2019, highlighting the failure of past ASEAN agreements on transboundary haze to prevent annual outbreaks.

Background

Transboundary haze has become a seasonal crisis across large parts of Southeast Asia, driven by the clearing of land for agricultural monocultures through burning. Indonesia, Malaysia, and other ASEAN members signed the Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in 2002, but enforcement has been weak, and fires—particularly in Indonesia's peatlands—continue annually during the dry season. Sarawak, sharing a land border with Indonesia's Kalimantan provinces on Borneo, is frequently the first Malaysian state affected.

Key Perspectives

Malaysian government: Emergency declarations and school closures prioritize public safety. The government says it is monitoring the situation and implementing mitigation measures, including cloud-seeding and public health advisories. Sarawak residents: They face disrupted education, cancelled events, and health risks. Business owners in sectors like tourism and plantations bear the brunt of closures. Critics and environmental groups: They argue that ASEAN's voluntary approach has failed, and call for Indonesia to enforce stricter penalties against illegal burning, and for a shift away from palm oil and other fire-dependent agricultural practices.

What to Watch

API readings in Sarawak over the coming days—whether cloud-seeding produces measurable improvement.
Whether Indonesia escalates enforcement against illegal land-clearing fires in Kalimantan.
Diplomatic statements or actions from ASEAN, including potential pressure on Indonesia from Malaysia at the upcoming ASEAN summit.

Sources

Schools Close Across Sarawak Due to Toxic Haze From Indonesian Wildfires — The Diplomat