World

RI Forest Fire Haze Drives Oxygen Tank Surge in Malaysia

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 18, 2026•3 min read

Toxic haze from Indonesian wildfires has driven a 35% surge in oxygen tank demand in Malaysia, while air purifier sales jumped 600% across Southeast Asia.

Key Facts

Kabut asap beracun akibat kebakaran hutan dan lahan (karhutla) di Indonesia memicu lonjakan permintaan tabung oksigen dan pembersih udara di Asia Tenggara.
Di Malaysia, perusahaan peralatan medis AA Alive di dekat Kuala Lumpur mencatat peningkatan penjualan tabung oksigen sebesar 35% akibat kabut asap.
Pasien Md Noor Bin Bujang menerima konsentrator oksigen pada 15 Oktober dan mengaku akan sesak napas tanpa alat tersebut, terutama saat kabut asap pekat.
Retail elektronik regional Courts mencatat penjualan pembersih udara melonjak 600% antara 28 September dan 12 Oktober 2026 dibanding periode yang sama tahun lalu.
Negara-negara yang dilaporkan terdampak asap karhutla Indonesia meliputi Malaysia, Singapura, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Filipina, Thailand, dan Timor Leste.
Pakar kesehatan Universiti Putra Malaysia Juliana Jalaludin mengkhawatirkan beban penyakit pernapasan generasi mendatang akibat paparan kabut asap berulang.

Oxygen Tank Sales Surge 35 Percent

Toxic haze caused by forest and land fires (karhutla) in the Republic of Indonesia (RI) has triggered a surge in demand for oxygen tanks and air purifiers across Southeast Asia. Medical equipment manufacturers and electronics retailers are ramping up production and supplies to accommodate the public's need to reduce pollution exposure.

In Malaysia, AA Alive, a medical equipment company located near Kuala Lumpur, recorded a 35 percent increase in oxygen tank sales. "We are seeing a 35 percent rise in sales due to the haze," said Rafina Firdaus, a member of AA Alive's sales team. The company supplies oxygen tanks that can be used continuously for up to three hours as well as oxygen concentrators that can run for up to 24 hours.

Patient: Without the Device, I Experience Shortness of Breath

Md Noor Bin Bujang, a patient hospitalized for over a month, received an oxygen concentrator on October 15. "Without the oxygen supply device, I would experience shortness of breath, especially during the haze," he said. AA Alive technician Mubassar Khan revealed that oxygen concentrator filters, which are typically replaced after 1,000 hours of use, now must be changed more frequently due to haze pollutants.

Reports from regional electronics retailer Courts showed air purifier sales surged 600 percent between September 28 and October 12 compared to the same period last year. "Customers are increasingly aware of the importance of indoor air quality," a Courts spokesperson said. A similar surge was reported by Singapore-based retailer Gain City, which noted demand had been climbing since early October.

Seven Countries Impacted

Haze lingering for months across parts of Southeast Asia has forced school closures and heightened respiratory complaints. The countries reportedly impacted by the forest and land fires from Indonesia include Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

Health experts voiced concern over the long-term impact of the haze on public health, especially for children. "I am worried that future generations will bear a greater burden of respiratory illnesses if they are repeatedly exposed to the haze," said Juliana Jalaludin of Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Malaysia Offers Assistance

The Malaysian government considers the haze impact to have reached an alarming level. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said air quality in his country has surpassed the unhealthy category and is nearing hazardous levels. Amid these conditions, Malaysia has expressed readiness to assist Indonesia in extinguishing the fires.

President Prabowo Subianto has reportedly accepted the offer of assistance, and both nations are still discussing technical aspects before Malaysian teams are deployed, including operational mechanisms, task allocation, and viable locations.