SHAH ALAM, Aug 29 — As haze conditions across the country worsen, Malaysians are adjusting their daily routines, especially by scaling back outdoor activities.
Corporate communication intern Fathihah Diyana, 24, said she has reduced outdoor visits to the park with her siblings, a typical family routine.
“I do not take my siblings out to the parks on weekends anymore because the air quality is getting worse.
“I hope the authorities will take proactive measures as they are among the most vulnerable to the hazy conditions, making school closures and online learning necessary if air quality deteriorates further.
“Since school children are highly exposed, with windows left open and students sitting together at assemblies, I feel that schools should be closed,” she told Media Selangor.
As of 12pm yesterday, the Environment Department’s (DOE) Air Pollutant Index Management System website reported that 21 areas nationwide recorded “unhealthy” readings.
Sri Aman in Sarawak recorded the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 182, followed by Cheras in Kuala Lumpur (160) and IPD Serian in Sarawak (159).
For Selangor, Johan Setia and Shah Alam have the highest API reading at 152, and Petaling Jaya at 126.
Sales manager Stanley Ho, 57, suggested the government reconsider school closures and remote learning should start when the API reading is between 160 and 180 instead of waiting for the air quality to reach 200.
An API reading between 101 and 200 is categorised as ‘Unhealthy’, while 201 to 300 is ‘Very Unhealthy’, and anything above 300 is deemed ‘Hazardous’.
“If the figure reaches a certain level perhaps 180 or 160 and above, it is better that the children are staying indoors.
“I even have to scale back my exercise routine because the haze is getting worse,” the father with school-going children said.
Ho also advised against open burning, as the wind can carry smoke to other areas and harm public health.
“I hope the government can be more strict with open burning activities,” Ho added.
Meanwhile, executive officer Abdul Halim Yahya, 58, suggested that the authorities can carry out cloud seeding operations to help clear the polluted air to promptly address the issue.
“The government needs to take action, such as conducting cloud seeding to help reduce the haze in our region a little,” he said.
On Wednesday (August 26), state executive councillor for public health and the environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said Selangor has activated the National Haze Action Plan through the DOE to address the declining air quality,
She noted that schools, kindergartens, and childcare centres must close if the API reading reaches 200.
Similarly, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Josep Kurup extended assistance to his Indonesian counterpart Jumhur Hidayat to combat forest and land fires that have contributed to the intensifying transboundary haze, including cloud-seeding operations in Indonesian airspace.
