Haze in Malaysia: keeping the air clean indoors, at home and at work
When the haze comes, the aim is simple: keep as much of it outside as you can, and clean the air you breathe indoors. Here is what the official readings mean, what your aircond can and can't do, and when an air purifier helps.
Air quality now · Air Pollutant Index (API)
Finding the nearest station…
What the API numbers mean
Malaysia measures air quality with the Air Pollutant Index (API), published by the Department of Environment — not the AQI some apps show. Readings come from 68 stations, each a 24-hour running average. The Department's categories:
| API | Category |
|---|---|
| 0–50 | Good |
| 51–100 | Moderate |
| 101–200 | Unhealthy |
| 201–300 | Very Unhealthy |
| Above 300 | Hazardous |
See live API readings on APIMS (Department of Environment) →
Indoors: keep the haze out
- Stay indoors where possible. The Ministry of Health advises staying inside a building or home as far as possible (MOH guidance, in Malay).
- Keep windows closed. The Health Director-General has advised closing windows to reduce the haze coming into homes and buildings (2 October 2023).
- Don't add to it. Keep the air inside clean by cutting indoor sources of pollution such as cigarette smoke (Ministry of Health guidance, published by the National Security Council, 8 September 2026).
What your aircond can and can't do
This part is our own guidance, from servicing aircond units across the Klang Valley — not an official source.
A split-unit aircond cools and recirculates the air already in the room. Its standard filter is a coarse mesh that keeps dust and lint off the coil. It is not made to catch the fine particles that haze is made of.
In haze season that filter clogs faster, and a clogged filter restricts the airflow, so the unit cools less well. While the haze lasts, clean the filter more often — or ask us to.
Aircond filter cleaning
Book a clean before or during the haze
Homes: our residential service line. Offices, clinics, restaurants and shops: our commercial maintenance team.
When an air purifier helps
An aircond cools the air; an air purifier is built to clean it. Choose one by the size of the room: Daikin rates each model for the floor area it cleans, and suggests a room for each.
| Model | Room area (Daikin) | Daikin suggests |
|---|---|---|
| MC80ZVMM | up to 62 m²667 sq ft | Family room |
| MCK55UVMM | up to 41 m²441 sq ft | Master bedroom |
| MC55XVMM | up to 41 m²441 sq ft | Living room |
| MC40XVMM | up to 31 m²333 sq ft | Bedroom |
| MC30YVMM | up to 23 m²248 sq ft | Study room |
| MCQ30ZVMM-H | up to 23 m²248 sq ft | Baby room |
| MCMH55AVMMK | up to 41 m²441 sq ft | Bedroom |
Room area: for the air-purifying function only, calculated by Daikin using the JEM1467 test method (AIR CREATOR AD on Turbo). These are Daikin's rated figures, not a measurement in your room.
For businesses, Daikin suggests the MC80 for offices, restaurants and hotels, and the MCK55 for offices and shops.
For offices, clinics, restaurants and shops
Tell us the rooms and their sizes. We advise on placement and keep the filters serviced.
Air purifiers
Get a quote for a Daikin air purifier
Tell us the rooms and their sizes, and we'll suggest the models.
Daikin's notes
- Room area: calculation based on testing method of the Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association standard (JEM1467).
- Not all harmful substances in cigarette smoke (carbon monoxide, etc.) can be removed.
- This product is not a medical device, medical treatment device or a therapeutic good. This product is not intended to have any therapeutic use or to be used for the diagnosis, treatment, relief or prevention of illness. If you have a health concern or are not feeling well, please consult a health care professional.
Sources
- Department of Environment Malaysia, Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) — API categories, stations and averaging (read 9 October 2026).
- Ministry of Health Malaysia, Panduan Kesihatan untuk Anda (haze) (read 9 October 2026).
- National Security Council (MKN), Jerebu: kesedaran awal, perlindungan diri dan tanggungjawab bersama — the Ministry of Health’s “Tindakan semasa jerebu” guidance, published 8 September 2026 (read 10 October 2026).
- Health Director-General Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, statement of 2 October 2023 (on closing windows), as reported by Malay Mail (read 10 October 2026).
- Daikin Malaysia, Air Purifier catalogue (AP-1123-F), pp. 20–26; Air Purifier flyer (AP-0325-H-ML); AIR CREATOR Catalogue (CREATOR-0226-A), p. 15.
- The aircond section: CASS's own service guidance.