By Simon Tan
For many urban people in Malaysia, the daily commute is a test of endurance, patience, time and, increasingly, of something we can’t see but can’t escape: air quality.
As a member of Bike Commute Malaysia and the Penang Transport User Association, I’ve seen how cycling and walking – the most sustainable forms of mobility, especially for first and last-mile connectivity – are too often sidelined in national transport planning.
My own cycle commute covers about 12km each way from Taman Desa to KLCC, passing through Old Klang Road, Mid Valley, River of Life, KL Sentral, Pasar Seni, Kota Raya and Raja Chulan Road. It’s a route I know intimately – every pothole, every junction, every breath of air.
I have met fellow cyclists who commute from Petaling Jaya to Shah Alam or from Bukit Bintang to Bangsar and so on. These cyclists are not just hobbyists – they are ordinary people who believe in healthier, greener and more sustainable active mobility within the Klang Valley.
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Yet, every haze season, we are reminded of how fragile this commitment can be. Cycling during haze is punishing. Masks offer little protection against PM2.5 particles, and the combination of heat and poor air quality quickly drains the body.
Many cyclists stop. Ironically, this pushes more people back into cars, compounding air pollution, accentuated by the haze.
The impact extends beyond individual commuters. Construction workers struggle under reduced visibility and hazardous air. Office workers feel worn out from breathing the stale air that air conditioners push around the office.
The haze does not discriminate. It seeps into every layer of our daily life and productivity. And here’s the contradiction we face: if we are serious about promoting active mobility, we must also be serious about clean air. To safeguard everyone, including cyclists, pedestrians, public transit users and drivers in air-conditioned vehicles, we must tackle the core problems of haze and pollution.
For the health of our people and the liveability of our cities, we call upon Asean leaders to recognise the people’s right to clean air and a safe environment. We need to pass laws in every member country to control pollution, as the haze does not respect borders.
Please support this petition, which urges the Malaysian government to:
- Enact a domestic transboundary haze pollution law to hold Malaysian-owned companies operating abroad accountable for their role in causing transboundary haze and to ensure they act responsibly
Make outdoor air quality standards legally binding, time-bound, and enforceable by implementing stronger clean air protection laws, such as a clean air law that upholds international air quality guidelines
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Our state and Federal authorities need to wake up. The priorities are completely inverted and wrong. Too much emphasis on mega projects that encourage pollution and destruction of the environment. Even ordinary citizens need to be aware of the impact of their lifestyles instead of clinging to egotistic ostentation and exhibitionism of wealth. We need to return to simplicity and down-sizing, to appreciate the benefits of simple and humble living.