PETALING JAYA, Oct 22 — Malaysians are finding their lives disrupted by the haze, to the extent that they are becoming prisoners at home or the office.

Jillian A. Pasqual, 47, said her head hurts every time she went out of her home or office due to the ever-worsening haze that is threatening to become an environmental disaster.

“My eyes hurt, my throat hurts and my head hurts,” said the gymnasium customer service officer.

She said she had fallen sick several times recently, as have several of her friends.

Pasqual also noticed fewer people frequenting the gym where she works, probably over fears of being exposed to the haze.

“People are worried about exerting themselves outdoors because of the poor air quality. I see more people wearing masks these days. People are becoming hermits, they don’t go out anymore.”

She said she felt like a prisoner in her own home, spending all her free time there and not engaging in outdoor activities.

Zulkarnain Zulkifli, 26, a security guard, said his employer provided guards working outdoors with three face masks daily.

“Guards started falling sick because of the haze,” he said.

Zulkarnain said he had no choice but to be outdoors and suggested that those working outside be given indoor duties during severe haze.

“It’s not that we don’t want to work. But if we keep falling sick, how are we going to work in the first place?”

Two attendants at an outdoor kiosk selling T-shirts said they were falling sick often and were avoiding outdoor activities.

Sharon Chinnatamby, 30,  complained that masks were uncomfortable and made her sweat.

“It is better than nothing, as I have to work outdoors,” she said, adding that her employer paid for the masks.

Bhavanitha Shanmuga, 50, said she wore a mask every day but it did not protect her eyes.

 “My eyes have been dry since the haze started. They are always itchy and I have fallen sick several times in the past few weeks. I drink a lot of water but it doesn’t seem to help,” she said.

“I fall sick when I go outdoors, so all my free time is spent indoors. All I want is a breath of fresh air. Is that too much to ask?”

In Ipoh, Pizza Hut delivery rider Mohammad Syariffudin Zulkiffli, 22, said he has difficulty breathing when he is outdoors.

“I wear a mask and sunglasses but I can’t stand wearing it for long hours because it chokes me and my sight becomes unclear when my spectacles cloud up,’’ he said.

 A courier delivery staff, who wished to be known only as Hamid, said he was on medication for sore throat, fever and cough.

“Not only does it hurt my eyes, the smell of the thickening haze has affected my breathing. But I need to keep working even in these unhealthy conditions.

“The haze has also affected Anthony Micheal, 54, who has been working as a despatch rider with a construction company for the past 26 years.

“My eyes and throat get irritated whenever I go out on my rounds but I have no choice as my work is always outdoors.”

Despite the haze, some joggers like part-time construction worker, Woo Ah Yoong, 66, still frequent parks.

“I have been jogging daily for several years now and it has become a habit for me. Of late, the number of joggers here has fallen due to the haze,” the frustrated part-time construction worker said.