Hazy conditions in the administrative capital Putrajaya before noon Monday. (Asia News Network)

A total of 145 schools in Sepang, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat, Klang and Petaling Perdana districts in Makaysia are closed Tuesday as the haze situation in the state gets more severe.

Selangor State Education Department in a statement here today, said the closure would affect 23 schools in Sepang, 36 in Hulu Langat, 21 in Kuala Langat, 27 in Klang and 38 schools in Petaling Perdana.

On Saturday, more than 300 schools and kindergartens in Muar, Tangkak and Pontian were told to remain shut until further notice due to unhealthy API readings.

Malaysia’s Department of Environment reported that as at 11 p.m. Tuesday, the Air Pollution Index (API) reading in Johan Setia was 222, Klang (175) Banting (167) and Shah Alam (185).

An API reading of zero to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous.

“With the closure, 187,928 students will be affected and the public will be notified of changes and updates from time to time.

“The schools have been reminded to abide by the standard operating procedures and the health of students and teachers must be given priority at all times,” the statement said.

Torrential rain fell on Kuala Lumpur Monday after cloud seeding efforts bore fruit in the central states of Peninsular Malaysia following days of delays due to unsuitable conditions.

The Meteorological Department said it was able to seed clouds over Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka with the cooperation of the National Disaster Management Agency and air force.

The nearly three-hour operation was “fruitful” as rain was reported over several targeted districts, although “not as encompassing as expected.”

Despite some flight cancellations on Friday, Mr Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, said travelers were not deterred.

“The haze is something felt by all other Asean countries. This is an unavoidable phenomenon. In fact, Singapore, too, cannot avoid it. But not all parts of Malaysia are affected by the haze. I was just back from Langkawi and Penang, these areas are not affected by the haze,” he said. (Bernama News, Straits Times)