King urges public to stay alert as haze risk rises
His Majesty said the situation could also affect public health, especially among children, senior citizens and those with respiratory conditions.
"The public should look after their health and monitor the Air Pollutant Index (API) from time to time. Hot and dry conditions can cause fires to spread rapidly," said His Majesty in a statement posted on Facebook today.
Sultan Ibrahim also urged the authorities to step up patrols and enforcement against open burning, which could worsen the country's air quality.
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The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
City folk turn to masks and air purifiers
Residents try their best to counter effects from haze PETALING JAYA: As the haze continues to blanket some parts of Malaysia, city dwellers are finding ways to cope with the polluted air despite the occasional drizzle. From wearing face masks to investing in air purifiers, residents are taking steps to protect their health amid the poor air quality. Jaslin Ibrahim, a 39-year-old mother of two from Kuala Lumpur, has had to put her outdoor plans on hold due to the haze. With the persistent haze over the past week, she has opted to keep her family indoors to safeguard their health. 'Usually, I bring my newborn out for a walk to get some fresh air. But the haze hasn't let up, so we've been staying inside,' she said. Despite the occasional drizzle, which briefly clears the air, the haze would return, prompting Jaslin to purchase an air purifier for her home. 'This is the least I can do to ensure my children breathe cleaner air at home,' she added. Daphne Lim, 26, prefers to stay at home with all windows shut. She said that if she needed to leave the house, a face mask would be necessary. 'I would wear a face mask when going out or prefer driving instead of walking to avoid the polluted air,' said the executive, who lives in Cheras. For p-hailing rider Zamir Jailani, 28, he would frequently wear his face mask during his delivery rounds. 'Some days, the air seems okay, but other times it's quite bad, especially at noon when the scorching heat from the sun worsens the situation,' said Zamir, who lives in Petaling Jaya. A stall owner, who wants to be known as Lee, has also resorted to wearing a face mask while working outdoors. 'I spend a lot of time outside selling food by the roadside. 'The exhaust from vehicles is already bad but now with the haze, I need to be more cautious about my health,' said Lee, who is in her 50s and lives in Petaling Jaya. Meanwhile, one area in Sarawak and another in the peninsula recorded unhealthy air quality levels while 60 other areas experienced moderate conditions yesterday. According to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), as of 12.33pm, Miri registered the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 131, followed by Cheras at 118. On Saturday, Johan Setia in Selangor and Kuching in Sarawak recorded unhealthy API readings of 151 and 116, respectively. However, the air quality has since improved to 83 and 79. Sixty monitoring stations across Selangor, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan, Sarawak, Putrajaya, Sabah, Pahang, Terengganu, Johor, Labuan, Penang, Melaka, Kedah and Kelantan reported moderate air quality. Among the locations, Petaling Jaya recorded the highest API at 87 while Sandakan in Sabah and Kota Tinggi, Johor, registered the lowest at 51. Six areas recorded good air quality yesterday, namely Balik Pulau (Penang), Kemaman (Terengganu), Langkawi (Kedah), Tanah Merah (Kelantan), Kangar (Perlis) and Pengerang (Johor). The API scale classifies air quality as follows: 0 to 50 (good), 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy) and above 300 (hazardous). The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), meanwhile, reported that dry conditions continue to affect the southern Asean region, raising concerns of potential transboundary haze, especially from Indonesia. According to the latest update released at 10.32am yesterday, isolated showers were observed overnight in parts of central and southern Sumatra as well as central and northeastern Borneo. However, much of the region remained dry. Satellite imagery detected isolated to scattered hotspots in Sumatra and Borneo, with slight localised smoke plumes seen in western Kalimantan and central Sumatra. Cloud cover limited full visibility of the region's hotspot and haze conditions. In contrast, the northern Asean region experienced wet and cloudy weather, keeping hotspot activity low, aided by prevailing southwest winds. Dry conditions are forecast to persist over much of southern Asean, though some showers are expected in parts of Sumatra, Java and Kalimantan. While rainfall may temporarily ease the situation, hotspots and smoke haze are still likely to occur in drier areas. Prevailing winds in the southern region are expected to blow from the southeast to south, which may contribute to the spread of transboundary haze to neighbouring countries.
The Star
13 hours ago
- The Star
Covid-19 exposed our healthcare system's weakness, say doctors
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New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Rakan KKM part of push to fix public healthcare, says minister
PETALING JAYA: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has reaffirmed his determination to reform health financing, calling it a critical mission in his second term as the nation faces rising pressure on its public healthcare system. "This is my second bite of the cherry. I came back with a vengeance to get reform done — especially health financing. "We have studied the issues, we have run the numbers, and now, we must act," he said in his speech at the launch of the book "Crisis and Community: Covid 19 in Malaysia" here today. Dzulkefly said the country can no longer rely solely on annual budget increases, citing limited fiscal space and growing demands on public healthcare. He said there is a need for structural solutions that improve sustainability without compromising access or quality. Part of that broader reform agenda includes Rakan KKM, which he described as a "game-changer" to address talent attrition and generate revenue within the public system. The model allows specialists to offer paid elective services at selected public hospitals, with proceeds reinvested to upgrade facilities and expand capacity. "This isn't about jumping queues for emergency cases. It's about giving people an option for elective procedures while retaining top talent in the public sector." He also addressed concerns about fairness, emphasising that emergency and critical care services will remain fully subsidised and prioritised for all Malaysians. The programme, which provides "premium economy" services, will operate under the ownership of the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc), ensuring transparency and public accountability. He said a full media briefing on Rakan KKM is expected soon, where further details on implementation, pricing, and safeguards will be announced. Dzulkefly also urged all stakeholders to support meaningful reform and judge the initiative by its long-term impact on the nation's healthcare system.
