KUALA LUMPUR: Each year, 32,000 people die due to air pollution in the country. What strikes harder beyond the staggering figure is that these deaths could have been avoided.
A recent study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and Greenpeace Malaysia reported that Malaysia lost almost RM303 billion (US$73 billion) due to ambient air pollution in 2019.
This, the study found, was equivalent to 20 per cent of the country's gross domestic product in that year.
Citing the report, CREA's Southeast Asia analyst Isabella Suarez urged Malaysia to formulate more ambitious targets and policies for cleaner air, albeit the recent progress in its air quality.
"Malaysia should set an interim target to meet the World Health Organisation's (WHO) 2005 guidelines for ambient air quality. This would be an important stepping stone.
"Doing this alone could decrease premature deaths by 38 per cent annually and save 12,200 lives per year in comparison to air pollution at the current, observed levels.
"The economic savings from improved air quality would also be substantial. Malaysia could save an estimated RM 124 billion (US$ 30 billion) per year if the country abides by the WHO 2005 Guidelines," she said, during a webinar on Wednesday.
Isabella also pointed out that the root cause for seasonal transboundary haze incidents in Malaysia was peatland burning in Indonesia, for which Malaysian companies contributed and benefitted. However, she said, the phenomenon had not been sufficiently addressed.
In September 2021, the WHO had also updated its recommended ambient air quality guidelines for the first time since 2005.
This, Isabella said, should provide an impetus for Malaysia to revise its air quality guidelines and draw up long-term plans for cleaner air.
"Meeting the new WHO 2021 Guidelines for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) would save 22,000 lives per year.
"Other impacts such as sick days taken due to air pollution-linked illnesses, low birth weights and preterm births, as well as years lived with disabilities would be reduced by more than 75 per cent.
"Adopting the WHO 2021 guidelines would also reduce the economic cost for Malaysian (due to air pollution) by one-third annually.
"The country would be able to save RM212 billion (US$ 51 Billion) in air pollution related costs per year," she added.
Echoing similar concerns, public health expert Dr. Khor Swee Kheng said poor air quality also incurred indirect health costs, such as frequent absenteeism from work, that would result in reduced productivity for the country.
He, therefore, urged the government to manifest greater political will by using the Covid-19 pandemic as a "political burning platform" to improve the country's air quality.
"Firstly, the government should consider introducing a Health Impact Assessment, that models the Environmental Impact Assessment, for all industrial activities, to ensure our air quality is not compromised.
"Secondly, the government must roll out a ventilation standards guideline for all buildings in the country. Enforcing this guideline would help improve indoor air quality and create safer workplaces," he said.