Following the worsening haze conditions, the Education Ministry has ordered the closure of schools in several states and federal territories starting today. The affected areas include Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Rompin district in Pahang. The directive comes in response to a call from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, who urged the closure of schools in regions where the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings remain consistently between 150 and 180, indicating unhealthy air quality levels.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek confirmed the closures and emphasized that schools in other states such as Perlis, Perak, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan will continue operations as usual. Meanwhile, Johor had earlier declared a two-day school closure starting Wednesday following a decree from the state's Regent, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, due to deteriorating haze and air quality.

The Education Ministry has directed all state Education Departments (JPN) and district education offices (PPD) to closely monitor air quality and take immediate action, including further school closures if necessary to safeguard students and staff. Minister Fadhlina acknowledged that such measures might disrupt parents' routines, particularly those who must arrange alternative childcare, and assured that future closure decisions would be communicated in advance to provide sufficient preparation time. Parents have been advised to follow updates from their schools and local education offices.

Teaching and learning at the affected institutions will shift to home-based online methods, known locally as PdPR, during the closure period. The King also encouraged the public to adopt health precautions such as wearing face masks and limiting outdoor activities to reduce exposure to the poor air quality.

Separately, at the Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Sultan Ibrahim conferred several high-level police honours during the 2026 Police Gallantry and Bravery Awards ceremony. Among the recipients of the Panglima Gagah Pasukan Polis (PGPP) First Class award were Comm Datuk Seri Ibrahim Darus, director of Bukit Aman Special Branch, and other senior police officials recognized for their dedication to maintaining national security and public safety. Additional awards, including the Panglima Setia Pasukan Polis (PSPP), Pahlawan Pasukan Polis (PPP), Kesatria Pasukan Polis (KPP), and Bentara Pasukan Polis (BPP), were also presented to a total of over 250 officers and personnel.