PETALING JAYA: Preparations for a possible super El Niño in 2027 must begin now, rather than wait for extreme heat, water shortages and rising food prices, says the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca).
Its chief executive officer Dr Saravanan Thambirajah said failing to prepare now could severely impact the household finances of the public as well as national essential services, food security and public health.
He called for an early, coordinated national preparedness programme involving all relevant ministries, regulators, utility providers, local authorities and public health agencies.
“Preparedness must go beyond monitoring weather conditions, and preparations against this phenomenon should begin well before the expected onset of severe weather conditions.
“It should include assessing the resilience of essential infrastructure, ensuring adequate water supplies, strengthening electricity supply reliability, protecting food security and preparing public health services for extreme heat,” he said in a press release on Tuesday (Oct 13).
El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon involving the warming of equatorial Pacific Ocean waters, which usually leads to disruption of rainfall patterns and raises temperatures globally.
On Sept 3, the World Meteorological Organisation warned that the event would intensify into a very strong El Niño, with impacts potentially extending into 2027.
MetMalaysia forecasts that the phenomenon could peak between March and May next year, potentially pushing temperatures beyond the national record of 40.1°C recorded in Chuping, Perlis, in 1998.
Saravanan said the government must start identifying particularly vulnerable local communities, including low-income housing areas, rural and elderly communities, and households with limited access to adequate cooling.
He said electricity and water providers also must strengthen preventive maintenance, monitor reservoir levels and address infrastructure weaknesses before the super El Niño.
He called on regulators to ensure utilities operate efficiently without passing unnecessary costs to consumers.
“It would be unreasonable to continuously ask consumers to conserve electricity and water while avoidable inefficiencies and losses within utility systems remain unresolved,” he said.
To this, Saravanan also welcomed Budget 2027's Nur Madani rebate scheme of up to RM200 for selected energy-efficient appliances but urged the Government to increase support for vulnerable households.
He proposed a targeted appliance replacement or trade-in programme to help eligible households obtain more energy-efficient models at reduced prices, with proper collection and recycling of discarded appliances.
Saravanan also said that public education campaigns on energy efficiency, water conservation, appliance maintenance and heat protection should also begin immediately and continue throughout the year.
“Preparedness must become part of everyday consumer behaviour, not something Malaysians think about only when a crisis occurs,” he said.
Saravanan also urged the Government to strengthen monitoring of agricultural production, food supplies and prices, working with farmers, distributors and retailers to identify potential shortages early.
“Ultimately, preparing for El Niño is not simply about coping with hotter weather. It is about protecting household finances, ensuring reliable essential services, safeguarding public health and strengthening the resilience of Malaysian families.
“The government must lead, utility providers must act, and consumers must prepare. The time to start is now, not when El Niño is already affecting our daily lives,” he said.
