His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, have called on all Malaysians to wear face masks and take precautions as haze conditions worsen across the country.
Their Majesties, through a post on the Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Facebook page on Tuesday (15 September), said poor air quality can harm health and lead to respiratory complications. “The rakyat, especially senior citizens, children, those with respiratory conditions as well as those who work outdoors, should always take precautionary measures to protect themselves from the negative impact of air pollution,” the King and Queen stated, The Star reported.
Their Majesties also urged the public to limit outdoor activities when the Air Pollutant Index (API) reaches unhealthy levels. Malaysians should drink enough water, stay alert to official updates, and monitor daily API readings to safeguard their own health and that of their families, the royal couple added. The King and Queen expressed hope that Malaysians would prioritise health and take necessary precautions amid the current hazy conditions.
The advisory came as haze conditions intensified nationwide. As of 6pm on Tuesday, 40 areas across Malaysia recorded unhealthy API readings between 101 and 200, according to the Environment Department’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), The Straits Times reported. By 10pm, that figure had risen to 42 areas, with 24 recording moderate readings and only one station reporting a good reading.
Johan Setia in Selangor recorded the highest reading at 189. Other badly affected areas included Cheras in Kuala Lumpur (180), Shah Alam (175), and Petaling Jaya (168). Seven locations in Johor registered unhealthy readings, the highest number among all states. They were Tangkak (171), Pasir Gudang (165), Kota Tinggi (161), Larkin (160), Batu Pahat (159), Pengerang (157), and Segamat (121).
In Perak, Tanjung Malim hit 167 while Seri Manjung recorded 162. Several areas in Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, and Terengganu also crossed into the unhealthy category. The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre has forecast persistent dry conditions, keeping haze elevated in fire-prone areas despite possible improvements in regions with rain. Authorities continue to monitor the situation across affected states.
