Malaysia must move beyond reactive API readings to forecast haze, says air quality researcher

Malaysia must adopt a proactive approach to anticipate haze, warns air quality researcher. Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin Besut Campus director and air quality researcher Dr Azman Azid has called for the development of an early haze warning system to protect public health, after recurring episodes of air pollution. Dr Azman believes that Malaysia is currently managing crises rather than preventing them and suggests integrating various data sources to forecast haze risks earlier.

The Ministry of Health reported a 259 per cent increase in asthma cases during the 32nd and 33rd epidemiological weeks, indicating the significant impact of deteriorating air quality on respiratory diseases. Dr Azman proposes a new approach that includes forecasting, preventing, protecting, and acting, with a haze and health warning system built by combining hotspot data, satellite imagery, meteorological data, air trajectories, API readings, respiratory disease patterns, and PM2.5 levels.

This system would enable hospitals and schools to prepare earlier for potential health impacts. Although Malaysia is already involved in regional cooperation through the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, Dr Azman emphasizes the need for better integration of data to enable earlier haze forecasts. He also stresses the importance of strengthening laws against open burning, bush fires, and peatland monitoring, as well as enhancing regional cooperation to address the transboundary nature of air and smoke pollution.