Inter-monsoon season expected to bring respite from heat

Cracks appear on Timah Tasoh lake in Perlis following the dry spell.

PETALING JAYA: Inter-monsoon rains expected this month will provide a much-needed respite from the heatwave.

A Meteorological Depart­ment official said the wet weather should help lessen the El Nino effect.

“It is a misconception that the hot spell will go on until the middle of the year,” said the official who declined to be identified.

When the rains start, however, would depend on wind conditions, he said.

The heatwave continues to broil Chuping in Perlis and Alor Setar, Kedah, in the north, with temperatures recorded there yesterday at 38.6°C and 37.9°C, respectively.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau said most west coast states in peninsular Malaysia also recorded high temperatures.

Langkawi holds the record, having had no rain for the past 45 days, he said. This is followed by Arau (Perlis), 40 days; and Seberang Prai Tengah (Penang), 31 days.

National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Datuk Ismail Kasim said water supply was dwindling in parts of Pahang, Kedah and Perak.

“El Nino can lead to reduced rainfall of between 20% and 60%,” he said in a statement yesterday, adding that this has led to a significant drop in river and dam levels.

Reduced water levels in Sungai Pahang have led to a 10% reduction at the Lubok Kawah treatment plant. The Jelai and Batu 9 treatment plants in that state were also down by 15% and 33%, respectively.

Ismail said more than 6,000 consumer accounts in Lipis and Batu 9 Halt were also affected.

In Kedah, three plants – in Lubuk Tupah, Merbok and Gurun – had to reduce their supply of treated water by between 50% and 69%.

According to Ismail, Syarikat Air Darul Aman was channelling water from treatment plants in other states to make up the deficit.

In Perak, the Taiping Headworks treatment plant had to cut supply by 43%.

Ismail called on the people to be “prudent in their use of water”.