Higher Education Ministry keeping tabs on Malaysian students amid Indonesia haze, says Zambry


A motorist rides on a road amid haze from forest fires in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. -AP

KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry is continuously monitoring the situation involving Malaysian students in Indonesia following the prolonged haze, which could affect their health.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the ministry had yet to receive reports on the seriousness of the situation, as conditions varied across different universities and locations.

ALSO READ: Indonesia wildfires fuel surge in respiratory illnesses as haze spreads

“Indonesia has many island regions, whether in Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and elsewhere.

“Nevertheless, we continue to monitor the situation. So far, we have not received reports on its seriousness as it depends on the universities concerned.

“As such, we will continue to monitor it. Our representative at the Malaysian Education Office in Indonesia will inform us about the haze situation,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the 2026 Umno Annual General Assembly here on Saturday (Sept 12).

Open burning in Indonesia has contributed to prolonged haze affecting Malaysia, with several areas recording unhealthy air quality levels.

Zambry added that the universities' operations would also depend on their respective policies.

“If these universities face serious problems, they may close, and this will also involve our students.

“As of this moment, there has been no report concerning the seriousness of the health impact, although the haze situation there is serious,” he said. 

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