Haze Spike Triggers Hospitalisations and Calls for Tougher Transboundary Laws

During a recent haze episode, Muhammad Syahir Azali's nine-year-old daughter was admitted to hospital for five days after doctors linked her mycoplasma infection and bronchitis to polluted air, incurring nearly RM10,000 in medical costs. Meanwhile, runner Syahirah Atikah experienced chest tightness and a severe cold after completing a city marathon, even though the Air Pollutant Index was below 100 at the start. The Department of Environment’s portal recorded unhealthy API values in eight Johor districts and several locations in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.

Health Ministry surveillance indicated a 10.43% rise in upper-respiratory infections and a 26.47% increase in conjunctivitis cases over one epidemiological week. Medical experts warned that prolonged haze exposure can cause chronic lung inflammation and heighten risks of cardiovascular problems, especially for vulnerable groups. Academic voices stressed that outdoor exercise during haze raises inhalation of fine particles, urging better urban planning of running routes. Greenpeace Malaysia and other civil society groups called for swift enactment of a transboundary haze law to hold polluters accountable.