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Malaysians panic-buy masks
12/08/2005 10:58 - (SA)
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| A Malaysian boy wears a face mask in Kuala Lumpur. (AP) |
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Kuala Lumpur - Thousands of face masks were handed out in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Friday, while pharmacies reported panic-buying of the essential item as Malaysians attempted to protect themselves from the choking haze.
Many pharmacies in the haze-hit Klang Valley, which encompasses Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas, said masks were flying off the shelves, and anxious citizens were demanding sturdier models with carbon filters.
"We did stock up on hundreds of masks shortly before the haze worsened this week but there was a lot of paranoia-buying three days ago, so that didn't help," said one pharmacist in Kuala Lumpur's Ampang diplomatic district.
"People were buying by the dozen and they were pretty aggressive about it, so my staff couldn't say no," she said, adding she had put in an urgent order for new stocks.
"This time we are restricting masks to two per person, unless they are asthmatics or suffer from respiratory problems."
Bottled water in demand
The pharmacist said they were also stocking up on bottled water as customers were becoming worried about a possible water shortage if the dry weather continued.
Authorities have already warned that they could start to implement rationing as the water levels in key dams supplying areas in the Klang Valley dipped to "alert" levels due to the lack of rain in recent weeks.
The air pollution index (API) reached 365 in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, up from 321 on Thursday, shrouding the city in a white mist reeking of wood smoke. An API above 300 is considered hazardous and 500 triggers a state of emergency.
At the Petronas Twin Towers, the world's second-tallest building and a popular tourist destination, masks were also sold out at the sprawling shopping centre attached to the landmark.
"There's a huge demand. Everybody was buying masks yesterday," said pharmacist Premlatha Balakrishnan. However, she said sales dipped on Friday as people avoided the city.
"I think many people are just staying at home and calling in sick today to avoid the haze. Staying indoors is the best option," she said, adding that she had recently gone to the hospital herself for haze-related health problems.
A local healthcare company teamed up with a courier company to distribute more than 20 000 free face masks to their workers and members of the public at various locations in the Klang Valley on Friday.
Traffic policemen, firemen, postmen and students in haze-polluted Shah Alam, which recorded some of the highest air pollution index (API) levels on Friday, were also given vital supplies.
The government of Selangor state, which has been badly hit by the haze, has also ordered face masks from suppliers, to be distributed to the public.
- AFP
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