Haze sparks mask-buying frenzy in Sarawak capital Kuching

Face masks have disappeared from shelves across Kuching as residents respond to worsening haze and hazardous air quality. Most major pharmacies and stores in Sarawak’s capital reported running out of protective gear over the past week.

At Alpro Satok, pharmacist Eunice Lau said sales began rising last week as the haze deteriorated. The outlet ran out of masks two days ago, and replacement supplies ordered from Peninsular Malaysia had no confirmed arrival date. Customers, she said, were buying whatever remained available.

Caring Pharmacy Satok also had no masks left. “We ran out just yesterday. Not a single piece on the shelf,” pharmacist Liew Ai Mee said. At a PMG Pharmacy outlet in Matang, only about 20 masks remained on Sept. 1, with staff expecting them to sell out soon. The store expected new supplies within two days.

N95 and KN95 masks were the most sought-after products, followed by KF94 masks. Customers also bought surgical masks when other options were unavailable, although a worker identified as Kho said those masks might not offer enough protection in the current haze. Kuching’s air pollutant index reached 374 at 2 p.m. on Sept. 1. National guidelines classify readings above 300 as hazardous, while levels above 500 could prompt consideration of a local emergency.

Pharmacists generally advised people who must spend time outdoors to use properly fitted N95 masks, which filter at least 95 percent of airborne particles. KF94 masks were also recommended as a more affordable close-fitting option. A 10-mask box of N95s cost RM18.90, while KF94 masks sold for RM10 to RM15. Pharmacists said they could not predict whether prices would rise because any changes would come from their headquarters.

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We ran out just yesterday. Not a single piece on the shelf.