KUALA LUMPUR: With Malaysia experiencing a prolonged spell of haze, social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has urged companies with outdoor workers to provide them with N95 face masks.
The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said employers must prioritise the health and safety of workers exposed to hazardous conditions caused by the haze.
As of 3pm today, 22 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings. Bukit Rambai in Melaka recorded the highest reading at 170, followed by Nilai in Negeri Sembilan at 162 and Klang in Selangor at 161.
“Providing N95 masks is a small price for employers to pay to keep their workers safe and healthy,” Lee said.
“If you are in construction, imagine the delays to a project if most of the workers fall ill. That is a real possibility.
“Most of these workers earn just enough to meet their basic needs and those of their families. They should not be burdened with buying masks to protect themselves against a situation beyond their control.”
He also urged manufacturers to keep prices down and not exploit the surge in demand.
Lee also criticised the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, describing it as a failure.
“They have been talking for the past 10 to 12 years, but there is no solution in sight. Malaysia is affected by the haze every year, to the point that it has become like a ritual for most of us,” he said.
“We need action, not words. We must also punish local companies involved in open burning. The government must identify the companies involved.
“The haze is affecting public health, disrupting schooling, harming businesses and causing economic losses amounting to billions of ringgit. We must find a way to stop it.”
Meanwhile, former Klang MP Charles Santiago has called for stronger measures to protect Malaysians from haze pollution, particularly workers who cannot avoid prolonged exposure to polluted air.
In a statement titled ‘Protect Malaysians, hold plantation companies accountable’, Santiago said haze protection must go beyond simply advising people to wear masks.
“Outdoor workers, including delivery riders, construction workers and traffic personnel, may spend eight hours or more exposed to polluted air and cannot simply remain indoors,” he said.
Santiago called for clear thresholds to determine when outdoor work should be reduced or suspended during severe haze. He also called for mandatory workplace risk assessments, suitable respirators and alternative duties when exposure becomes unsafe.
He said Malaysia should translate its air quality and workplace safety guidelines into clear, enforceable measures, noting that other countries already used air quality thresholds to guide workplace precautions.
Santiago also highlighted the cost of protective equipment, saying N95 masks reportedly cost between RM40 and RM50 a box, while other options cost between RM57 and RM60.
“The government should negotiate bulk purchases and ensure that affordable, quality-certified N95 masks were available, while employers should bear the cost of protective equipment required to manage workplace exposure,” he said.
Santiago also called for stronger coordination among the Health, Human Resources, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, and Investment, Trade and Industry ministries under Malaysia’s National Action Plan on Haze.
On corporate accountability, Santiago urged Malaysian companies with investments in Kalimantan to voluntarily disclose their concession areas and relevant subsidiaries.
He said the government should cross-check the disclosures against fire hotspots and land records, investigate credible links to fires and publish its findings.
“We cannot keep asking the public to bear the health costs of haze without investigating who is contributing to it,” Santiago said.
