PUTRAJAYA: The government, through the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), is strengthening the country’s level of preparedness following forecasts of more challenging hot and dry weather conditions due to the El Nino phenomenon, which is expected to persist until early 2027.
This includes cross-agency cooperation to address disaster risks arising from the prolonged hot and dry conditions.
Nadma director-general Meor Ismail Meor Akim said that although the situation remains under control, the government is not taking it lightly and has instructed all relevant agencies to enhance their preparedness and implement mitigation measures early to ensure public safety, the continuity of water supply and the nation’s well-being.
“Three cloud-seeding operations have been scheduled to be carried out in the near future to help increase rainfall distribution and reservoir levels in affected areas.
“The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) will continue to monitor the situation and issue updates on the El Nino phenomenon throughout the Southwest Monsoon period,” Meor Ismail said in a statement yesterday.
MetMalaysia has also been instructed to issue haze forecasts and provide forest fire prediction data generated through the Fire Danger Rating System (FDRS), with projections covering the next seven days, to the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).
According to Meor Ismail, the JBPM has been directed to work with the Department of Environment to continuously monitor 83 hotspots identified as being at high risk of open burning throughout the Southwest Monsoon period as part of early mitigation efforts.
“The Department of Irrigation and Drainage must identify dams requiring maintenance so that the relevant parties can take immediate action, while the Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG) must identify additional groundwater source locations for the construction of tube wells as a mitigation measure in water-stressed areas,” he said.
On public health, he said the Health Ministry had been tasked with intensifying public awareness campaigns on the health effects of hot weather, particularly among high-risk groups, Bernama reported.
At the same time, the Education Ministry has been asked to roll out a nationwide awareness programme on coping with hot weather for school students to enhance awareness and reduce the risks associated with the Southwest Monsoon.
Meor Ismail stressed that the whole-of-government approach remains a key pillar of the Madani Government’s efforts to ensure that all relevant agencies maintain an optimum level of preparedness to address any disaster risks arising from hot and dry weather conditions.
“Nadma will continue to monitor developments and coordinate the actions of all relevant agencies to ensure that the safety, well-being and interests of the people remain the top priority,” he said.
