Prepare now for the coming El Nino heat

SINCE the beginning of this month, there have been almost daily headlines about heatwaves in Malaysia: “Hot weather: Bomba identifies 406 hotspots nationwide”, “Prepare early for El Nino, experts warn”, “MetMalaysia issues a Level 1 (yellow) heatwave alert for 15 areas in Malaysia” are just a small sample.

The National Disaster Manage-ment Agency should instruct all states and districts with Level 1 (yellow) alerts to convene meetings with state/regional disaster management committees to coordinate mitigation measures.

All heads of departments and community leaders (penghulu and ketua kampung) should be reminded not to allow open burning in areas under their jurisdiction.

They can advise and stop anyone who practises open burning in their respective neighbourhoods while all surau/masjid should advise their congregations about the importance of not burning anything now.

All state water companies should report the status of treated water supply according to the state of the basin of each water treatment plant, as well as all preparatory measures they are taking; this should include details such as names of managers, supervisors and staff on a shift basis (including customer service personnel at call centres).

They must also ensure additional logistical needs such as water delivery trucks and static tanks are available so that the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) can coordinate with all water companies for assistance.

Although it is only a forecast and temperatures might not actually rise as high, the preparation of areas issued Level 1 (yellow) alerts can provide learning so that if the weather conditions due to the effects the El Nino phenomenon becomes more widespread, states will have valuable experience to draw on.

MUHAMMAD SHA’ANI ABDULLAH

Chairman

Sustainable Development Network, Malaysia (Susden)