KUALA LUMPUR: While the Air Pollutant Index (API) reached an unhealthy level in Cheras in the afternoon, many people went about their daily lives as usual.
Pharmacy staff at Bandar Mahkota Cheras Fatin Haizatul Nazreen Wahab, 26, said some people were genuinely unaware of the unhealthy air reading as their surroundings looked normal like any other day.
Fluctuating API readings were reported in Cheras, according to Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), with the last moderate reading of 100 recorded at 10am today.
The situation was a slight improvement from Saturday, where an API reading of 150 was recorded at 5pm.
"It is a bit hot outdoors, but we thought it is just a normal weather change. I even had a customer saying they are not taking any precautionary steps for the haze.
"In my neighbourhood, there were people jogging and going for brisk walks in the morning. But none of them were wearing masks outdoors," she told the New Straits Times.
A resident at Bandar Sri Permaisuri Azmeera Azme, 26, said most people were not aware of the haze as there was not much news about it.
"Most people do not wear masks anymore. As for me, I wear a mask outside but that is because of Covid-19 concerns.
"At first, I didn't even know about the haze because there is little news about it. So, everything went on as usual."
Checks by the New Straits Times showed some residents, including elderly people exercising at some public parks.
On the Cheras-Kajang Expressway, most motorcyclists were seen not wearing any sort of face protection.
Three areas have registered unhealthy air quality readings as of 3pm today.
Segamat, Johor, recorded the highest API reading at 152, followed by Cheras at 106 and Tanah Merah, Kelantan, at 104.
An API reading between 0 and 50 is categorised as good, 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy and 300 and above hazardous.