'Can't escape the burning smell': Johan Setia residents endure weeks of haze

Kampung Johan Setia, situated in Klang, is enduring a haze that has persisted for weeks, enveloping the village in an overwhelming burning smell. The acrid odor is nearly impossible to escape, regardless of one's proximity to the source. Local resident Nurarifah Fariha Huthfi, a 35-year-old stall owner, has observed the adverse effects on her customers, many of whom have fallen ill due to coughing fits that have persisted for months.

She described the smell as "acrid" and "distinct," noting that the situation worsened when the Air Pollution Index (API) reading reached 192, causing severe discomfort and irritation.

Nurarifah herself was not immune to the haze's effects, suffering from a fever and frequent eye infections due to the lack of time off from her business. The haze was so thick at times that she struggled to see clearly, and her nine-year-old daughter, who suffers from asthma, had also fallen ill repeatedly. Nurarifah believed that the cause of the haze was partly due to open burning from vegetable farms situated behind her village, extending as far as Bandar Putera Klang, about 6km to 8km away.

She pointed out that the farmland was difficult to discern from the haze, requiring a four-wheel-drive vehicle to fully appreciate its extent.

The resident, who has lived in Kampung Johan Setia since 1994, recalled experiencing severe wildfires during her childhood when the area was still dense forest. She emphasized that peat soil is particularly challenging to extinguish once ignited, making it a significant contributor to the persistent haze. Despite the hardships, Nurarifah acknowledged that the haze was not entirely new to the area and that she had grown accustomed to the itching, sore eyes, and persistent cold.

Hafiz Shaari, a local farmer who has been cultivating vegetables in the village since 1995, contested the notion of open burning being the primary cause of the haze. He claimed that his farm is equipped with sprinklers, and the Department of Environment is closely monitoring farming activities in the region. Instead, Hafiz attributed the prolonged haze to the development of factories and warehouses on the village's peat soil, which began after 2000.

Prior to that period, there was minimal development in the area. Hafiz observed an increase in industrial buildings, including factories, workshops, and storage warehouses, which he believed were responsible for the persistent haze.