KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — The Education Ministry today announced that schools in five states and two federal territories will close tomorrow due to worsening air quality.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid made the announcement tonight via a post on Facebook.

“Schools will close in Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Putrajaya, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Tawau, Kuching, and Samarahan on Monday October 19 following the increase in the Air Pollutant Index (API) in the affected areas.

“The examinations for Malaysian Higher Religious School Certificate (STAM) and vocational colleges will continue under Ops Topeng,” he said.

Fourteen areas in the country registered API readings of above 100 today, which signify unhealthy air quality levels.

School closures are automatically triggered when the API breaches 200 or the “very unhealthy” mark.