While Singapore is scrambling to hand out respirator masks and meeting Indonesian officials about the haze crisis, Malaysian authorities seem to be dragging their feet, said Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.

In a press release today, Teo said Singapore had already begun distributing 1 million N95 masks to the poor starting today.

NONE These specialised masks were needed to filter out fine particles carried by the haze.

"Putrajaya should be giving it free to the poor and needy, such as pregnant women, children, elderly or those having respiratory conditions in Muar and places where the air pollutant index (API) is over 300," she said.

Teo also pointed out that Singapore had dispatched its Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to meet his Indonesian counterpart Balthasar Kambuaya last Friday.

"On the other hand, our Natural Resources and Environment Minister G Palanivel will only visit Balthasar on next Wednesday. What has our Government done to press the Indonesia’s Government on the emergency and urgency of the haze disaster?" she asked.

Teo, a second term MP, said that unlike the haze crisis in 2005, which saw a state of emergency being declared in Port Klang and Kuala Selangor after the API breached 500, schools and non-essential businesses were ordered close.

However, despite the API reaching 746 in Muar this morning, there was no formal and official announcement from Putrajaya on the emergency status other than a post on Palanivel's Facebook page.

"What has actually been done for the residents of Muar whose health is seriously at stake?" she asked.

DOE's Air Pollutant Index - check API readings nationwide