Kuala Lumpur - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Can get bad during the burn season. - May 2022
Not good. I think it's worse than many others but I'm susceptible to something in the pollution. I consistently have problems with my eyes. We're clocking in at about 186 today. That being said, very few people limit their activities here. - Aug 2018
Every few years Malaysia experiences a haze from crop burning in Indonesia. This has not happened in the year that I've been here, but there was a bad haze season a couple of years ago. The Embassy provides all apartments with air purifiers just in case. In general air quality is probably on par with many large American cities. - May 2018
Air quality is good most of the year. We did have really bad air for two months last year when the Indonesians were burning their palm fields. This occurs every year, but the haze last year was especially awful. - Apr 2017
It's been decent except for a couple of days over the last nine months. Most people have air purifiers. - Apr 2017
Most of the year the air quality is moderate (not stellar, but average for a big third world city). In September/October, however, when the corporations in Indonesia do their slash-and-burn for the palm oil plantations, the resulting haze makes the air quality dangerous for several days to months until the rainy season reaches Sumatra. - May 2016
Moderate. Can be bad when the smoke comes over from Indonesia. - Feb 2015
Moderate most of the time, unless there's the deaded "haze." - Aug 2013
From June-August, harvesting or burning of crops is common resulting in the haze. Daily traffic congestion during morning and afternoon rush hour results in an increase in exhaust fumes. Rain promotes fungal growth, thus molds can be a factor in those with allergies. - Aug 2011
Moderate - Mar 2011
