Air quality in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur and the southern state of Johor hit unhealthy levels Wednesday due to smog from Indonesian forest fires that is also blanketing Singapore. Kuala Lumpur was shrouded in a white haze as the air pollutant index jumped to 108, according to environment department data. A reading of 100-plus is considered unhealthy.
Four other regions in central and southern Malaysia posted unhealthy readings while in many others, including the historic state of Malacca, the index nudged close to the 100 mark.
Visibility at Kuala Lumpur international airport has this week fallen to three kilometres (1.86 miles), well down on the normal 10 kilometres, but officials said it had not affected air travel.
Singapore's air quality has also been poor this week, registering in the unhealthy range for the second day Tuesday and prompting the government to warn people with heart or respiratory conditions to stay inside and avoid exertion.
Indonesian farmers burn forests annually to clear land for agriculture, causing a smoky haze that spreads across the region during the dry season, affecting tourism and increasing health problems.
The government has outlawed land-clearing by fire but weak enforcement means the ban is largely ignored.
Environment ministers from Singapore, Malaysia and other regional nations have urged Indonesia promptly to ratify a regional treaty aimed at preventing cross-border haze pollution.
