OCTOBER 19 — As many families were settling in for the night, phones across Malaysian homes suddenly lit up with an announcement that caught parents off guard.

Not because of a public holiday or examination break, but because the air outside had become unhealthy.

Many of today’s younger primary school pupils did not experience Covid-era PdPR as students. Some were babies. Others were toddlers or preschoolers. Even those old enough to remember the pandemic may never have experienced structured online learning independently. — Pexels pic

Today, schools across several states and affected areas are closed because of the worsening haze.