Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. —filepic
IPOH: There is a more urgent need to do a cloud seeding operation over the Bukit Merah Dam in Bagan Serai than the Taiping Lake Gardens.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the dam was a water source for the agricultural sector, including paddy fields and farms while the lake gardens was just a location for leisure.
"There is no need to conduct cloud seeding operations at the lake gardens, as it is not an urgent situation, compared to the dam.
"Cloud seeding is also expensive, so just let it be and allow the water to return naturally through rainfall," he said in a press conference after attending a Perak Women's Townhall here on Thursday (July 25).
"We have requested the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry to conduct cloud seeding over the Bukit Merah Dam," he added.
It was reported that the lake at the Taiping Lake Gardens was drying up due to extreme weather and lack of rainfall.
According to Pokok Assam assemblyman Ong Seng Guan, Taiping, dubbed the wettest town or "Rain Town" of Malaysia, has not had rainfall in the last two weeks.
Several rivers and waterfalls near Bukit Larut have also dried up.
It was also reported that the water at the Bukit Merah Dam was at a dangerously low level.
Meanwhile, the Mentri Besar said that the Federal Government cannot be changed by just "jeritan" (cries) from non-governmental organisations.
Responding to a plan by an Opposition-backed NGO to hold a rally in Tambun on Friday (July 26), Saarani said a government can only be changed via a general election.
"A democratic country chooses its government through elections.
"We do not have to entertain calls by certain NGOs to change the government whenever they jerit (cry)," he said.
"If anyone wants to elect a new government, wait for the next general election.
"If anyone wants to demonstrate, it is up to them," he added.
