PUTRAJAYA: Haze in Kuching and Serian will affect outdoor events planned for the Malaysia Day celebrations on Sept 16, says Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said the Cabinet took note that the haze situation in the two areas was concerning and outdoor events could not proceed.
He said the main Malaysia Day celebration would continue at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on the night of Sept 16.
“For the Malaysia Day celebration, it will be held indoors in the building on Sept 16 at night,” he said at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (Sept 2).
Fahmi said the Cabinet also took note of preparations by the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) for cloud seeding operations, particularly in Sarawak.
However, he said the operation was subject to advice and decisions by the Malaysian Meteorological Department on the availability of suitable clouds.
He said several groups of clouds had been detected but were found to be unsuitable as wind movements had pushed them towards the South China Sea.
“As a result, if cloud seeding is carried out, rain will not fall in the areas where it is needed,” he said.
Fahmi said the operation would therefore depend on the Meteorological Department’s assessment of suitable cloud formations.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said the Cabinet had recorded its appreciation and congratulations to the team involved in organising the National Day celebrations at Dataran Putrajaya on Aug 31.
He said more than 100,000 people attended the celebration, while more than 10,000 participated as members of contingents or as part of the human graphics.
He said the programmes held alongside the main celebration also provided visitors to Putrajaya with a new and positive experience during National Day.
