Public varsities, colleges told to decide on their own as haze worsens

 Higher education minister Zambry Abd Kadir says they need to assess the situation themselves with regard to how learning should be carried out.

Higher education minister Zambry Abd Kadir said public institutions of learning could use online learning or other methods if their students were unable to go to campus.

KUALA LUMPUR:

The higher education ministry has authorised public institutions of learning to decide on arrangements for their students amid the worsening haze.

“We are giving universities, polytechnics and community colleges the autonomy (to decide).

“They need to assess the situation themselves and make a decision,” the minister, Zambry Abd Kadir, said after attending the Malaysia Global Civilisational Initiative Summit 2026 here today.

He said the institutions could use alternative learning methods, such as online learning, if their students were unable to go to campus.

Yesterday, some 200 schools, kindergartens and nurseries in Batu Pahat, Johor, were ordered to close today after the air pollutant index (API) reading in the district reached 203.

API readings of between zero and 50 are categorised as good, 51 to 100 as moderate, 101 to 200 as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy, and 301 and above as hazardous. - FMT