A screen at the gate of a school shows the message of the school's one-day closing in Cheras of Selangor, Malaysia, on Sept. 15, 2015. Schools in Malaysia's capital and several states have been told to close on Tuesday amid the worsening haze from neighboring Indonesia. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung)
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Schools in Malaysia's capital and several states have been told to close on Tuesday amid the worsening haze from neighboring Indonesia.
Malaysian Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid instructed all schools in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan and Malacca to be closed.
The haze from Indonesian forest and agricultural fires were blanketing the country and made the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings rise towards very unhealthy levels.
The Education Ministry made an announcement that schools have to be closed if the API reading exceeds 200 in the areas, and all activities outside the classroom have to be ceased if the API rises above 150.
