Malaysia closed schools across several states and federal territories on Friday as worsening haze from forest and peatland fires in neighbouring Indonesia pushed air pollution to unhealthy levels.
The closures follow more than a month of persistent smoke across Southeast Asia, with deteriorating air quality affecting Malaysia and Singapore and prompting calls for coordinated regional action.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced closures in Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, alongside the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Schools in Pahang's Rompin district were also ordered closed.
Fadhlina instructed education authorities to monitor conditions and respond promptly to further deterioration, while promising earlier notifications of future closures to help parents prepare.
Government data showed 37 Malaysian areas recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index readings on Friday morning.
Kuala Lumpur registered approximately 170, placing it within the unhealthy category under Malaysian guidelines.
The index classifies readings above 200 as very unhealthy and above 300 as hazardous.
Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim urged school closures when readings reached 150 or higher.
Air quality monitor IQAir ranked Kuala Lumpur as the world's second-most polluted city on Friday morning, behind Singapore.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Thursday that he had contacted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto about the fires, which have continued spreading smoke across national borders.
According to Anwar, Prabowo agreed to take necessary measures to address the situation, while Malaysia expressed readiness to assist Indonesia.
Anwar also instructed Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan to pursue an urgent meeting of ASEAN environmental ministers to coordinate regional efforts.
Malaysia has intensified its response through measures including cloud seeding intended to encourage rainfall.
Meanwhile, Singapore recorded an Air Quality Index reading of 205, classified as very unhealthy, according to IQAir.
Experts attributed the worsening fires partly to an intensified El Niño weather phenomenon, contributing to some of the region's worst pollution conditions in years.
The continuing haze has also driven rising respiratory complaints, underscoring growing public health concerns across affected countries.