The Malaysia haze emergency has been declared in Serian after pollution reached hazardous levels, while 647 Sarawak schools will temporarily close.
KUCHING: Malaysia has declared a state of emergency in Serian, Sarawak, after severe haze pushed air pollution to hazardous levels, triggering stronger public safety measures as 647 schools across parts of the state prepare to close temporarily.
The Malaysia haze emergency was declared on September 4, 2026, after the Air Pollutant Index in Serian surged above the critical 500 mark. Reuters reported a reading of 519, while subsequent readings continued to show dangerous air quality conditions.
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim consented to the emergency declaration following advice from the country’s prime minister, the Premier of Sarawak and relevant agencies. Authorities said the measure would allow more effective action to protect the health and welfare of people in affected areas.
The deteriorating air quality has also caused major disruption to education.
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A total of 647 primary and secondary schools across Sarawak will temporarily close for five days from September 7 to September 11. The closures involve 563 primary schools with 108,477 pupils and 84 secondary schools with 90,082 students, according to the Sarawak Education Department.
Affected students will switch to home-based teaching and learning during the closure period.
Schools across 12 district education offices are affected, including Kuching, Padawan, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Simunjan, Serian and Sri Aman. Lubok Antu, Kanowit, Julau and Meradong are also included.
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The severe haze has been linked to smoke from forest and peat fires in neighbouring Indonesia, creating renewed concern over transboundary air pollution across Southeast Asia.
Authorities are continuing to monitor air quality while mitigation measures are implemented. Cloud-seeding operations have also been used as Malaysia attempts to improve conditions in affected areas.
Impact to expect
The Malaysia haze emergency could cause further disruption to schools, outdoor activities and daily life if hazardous conditions persist. Families in affected areas may also face extended periods of home-based learning, while authorities intensify air-quality monitoring and measures aimed at reducing public exposure.
The Department of Environment said monitoring and preparedness would be raised to the highest level following the Serian emergency declaration, alongside stronger field operations under Malaysia’s national haze response framework.
Sarawak haze, Serian air pollution, Malaysia air quality, Sarawak school closures
