Business as usual, JB residents say not affected by haze
SHAHRIZAL AHMAD ZAINI
JOHOR BAHRU - Residents in the city are carrying out their daily activities as usual despite the area being listed among the locations with the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.
A survey by Sinar Harian around Johor Bahru today found that the haze conditions did not hinder them from going about their daily activities, such as going out for work and eating at stalls or restaurants.
According to private sector employee Junaidi Tuah, 50, the current condition was not severe.
Furthermore, he said there has been no report of any unfortunate incidents caused by the hazy weather.
"For me, I don't feel the haze very much and even in the past month, it hasn't been too bad.
"It's just normal for me. It used to be worse... People can still leave their homes, go to work and carry on with their daily activities," he said.
For the record, as of 4pm yesterday, the API in Larkin, Johor, recorded the highest reading at 155.
Another resident Mohd Ali Matwi, 30, described that haze condition as not yet posing a significant threat to the public.
However, Ali admitted that the current weather was quite hot, making him feel thirsty quickly.
"Even though nothing much has happened yet (in terms of being affected by the haze), I admit that the weather is quite hot now.
"I get thirsty quickly because my throat feels dry even when I'm not doing any daily activities.
“In any case, the current situation is still considered normal and hopefully, it will end soon," he said.
Meanwhile, for restaurant owner in Larkin, Mohamad Muneer Abdul Majeeed, his restaurant continued to operate as usual in the hazy weather.
He said most customers who visited his restaurant would place their food orders as usual and there were no extraordinary orders for beverages from customers.
"Even now, the weather is hazy, but customers still visit my restaurant.
"Although the weather is quite hot now, customers still order drinks as usual, at most two glasses a person.
"No one has ordered more than that yet," he said.
