Banjarbaru delays school start times as haze worsens

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 AUGUST 2026 —

Banjarbaru delayed the start of public and private primary and junior-secondary school classes to 09:00 WITA from the usual 07:30 WITA as smoke from forest fires blanketed the city.

City secretary Sirajoni said the change, which adjusts finish times by grade level, will run while haze persists and outdoor school activities are banned. Students must wear masks outdoors to reduce smoke exposure, while transport officials will deploy officers on routes to schools where visibility is falling, he told a Friday briefing led by Mayor Erna Lisa Halaby.

The administration also plans extra clean-water supplies as drought stretches into the third quarter. Firefighters under the regional disaster agency will assist distribution to households most affected by dry conditions. On health, cumulative acute respiratory infection cases reached 21,323 between January and July, up from 879 cases in week 29 to 1,099 cases in week 30.

“Conditions will likely continue for two to three months, so we must anticipate drought and haze impacts across education, transport and the economy,” Sirajoni said. Residents were urged to wear masks outdoors and monitor official updates.