Tourists prepared to wear face masks amid unhealthy air quality

MELAKA - The public, including tourists in Melaka are prepared to wear face masks due to the unhealthy air quality in the state.

Local tourist Asyraf Adnan, 31, from Taiping, Perak said that so far, he has observed that the haze situation in Melaka is still under control and has not significantly affected visibility.

"Up to now, my family and I can travel as usual without experiencing throat irritation or coughing.

"However, if the air quality deteriorates, we will wear face masks," he said.

Craft trader Wan Norizan Wan Hussin, 48, said that the haze situation in Melaka's urban areas, such as Banda Hilir, is less severe than in Bukit Rambai, but she is prepared to use face masks if the air quality worsens.

"So far, there hasn't been a need to wear face masks, but if the situation worsens, I won't hesitate to wear one because I'm concerned about various health issues caused by the haze," she said.

Meanwhile, Politeknik Melaka student Muhammad Rashid Muhammad Hafiz Marian, 20, said that although Melaka is one of the states with an unhealthy Air Pollution Index (API), it has not affected visibility.

"My visibility is still clear, and I commute daily from my home in Klebang to my place of study in Malim without any issues.

"However, if the API continues to record the highest readings, it's possible that I will wear a face mask and reduce outdoor activities," he said.