Top entities: Malaysia — Sarawak State Education Department, Malaysia — Sarawak, Malaysia, Malaysia — Natural Resources and Environment Board.

What category does this event fall under?

Accidents — classified as school closure.

What is the sentiment of coverage?

Aggregate sentiment score: -10 on a -100 to +100 scale (negative = critical coverage, positive = favorable coverage).

Is this event still developing?

This is an active story, last updated Aug 20, 2026. Coverage continues to evolve.

Accidents school closure

Sarawak schools close due to haze

Q: When did this event occur?

First reported Aug 20, 2026; last updated Aug 20, 2026.

Q: What is the market impact?

General. The school closures are unlikely to have a direct impact on financial markets, but they highlight the severity of the haze in Malaysia — Sarawak, which could affect tourism and outdoor industries.

Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Aug 20, 2026 · Last updated Aug 20, 2026

Sentiment

-10

Attention

Articles

Market Impact

General

Live prominence charts, article sentiment distribution, and event development timeline available on the Ergen Dashboard

Market Impact

The school closures are unlikely to have a direct impact on financial markets, but they highlight the severity of the haze in Malaysia — Sarawak, which could affect tourism and outdoor industries. The recurring closures may raise concerns about the economic costs of air pollution in the region.

Education

Event Summary

On August 20, 2026, the Malaysia — Sarawak State Education Department ordered the closure of all schools under its jurisdiction in the districts of Kuching, Padawan, Serian, Bau, Lundu, and Samarahan for two days due to deteriorating air quality caused by haze. The closure, effective immediately and lasting until August 21, was a precautionary measure to protect students and staff from unhealthy air. Home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) was implemented to ensure continuity of education. Air Pollutant Index (API) readings reached unhealthy levels, with Serian recording the highest at 193, followed by Kuching at 190 and Samarahan at 173. This was the second school closure in two weeks due to haze in Malaysia — Sarawak, following a three-day closure in Serian the previous week when API exceeded 200. The Malaysia — Natural Resources and Environment Board monitors the haze through its Daily Haze Watch.

Key Actions

80 Malaysia — Sarawak State Education Department ordered school closures

Entities Involved

govactor

Malaysia — Sarawak State Education Department

The Malaysia — Sarawak State Education Department is the primary actor, ordering the two-day closure of schools in six districts due to hazardous air quality. Its decision affects thousands of students and staff, shifting to home-based learning.

Importance 100.0 Sentiment -10.0

loc

Malaysia — Sarawak

Malaysia — Sarawak is the state affected by the haze, with multiple districts experiencing unhealthy API readings. The recurring closures highlight the severity of the air pollution problem in the region.

Importance 80.0 Sentiment -10.0

cnt

Malaysia

Malaysia is the country where the haze and school closures occur, reflecting broader environmental and public health challenges. The event may draw attention to the government's handling of air quality issues.

Importance 60.0 Sentiment -10.0

govactor

Malaysia — Natural Resources and Environment Board

The Malaysia — Natural Resources and Environment Board monitors the haze and provides API readings that inform the closure decisions. Its data is crucial for public health responses.

Importance 40.0 Sentiment -5.0

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