Malaysia environment ministry warns of less rain, more haze

PETALING JAYA — Malaysia’s Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has warned citizens to brace for less rain and more haze “in coming months”.

This comes barely days after the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry forecast the hot weather would persist until September, as lakes and rivers dry up.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Jaafar said winds were expected to carry particles from Indonesia to Malaysia.

“Although the local haze is not at dangerous levels, the change of monsoon next month could worsen the situation. If forest fires break out in Indonesia, then we will face haze throughout the next few months, and there will be less rain,” he said.

Mr Wan Junaidi said although the El Nino phenomenon was expected to last until June, the South-west monsoon would prolong the hot and dry spell.

He also expressed concern over depleting water reserves at dams nationwide. Seven dams — Timah Tasoh (Perlis), Beris, Padang Saga, Muda (Kedah), Bukit Merah (Perak), Bukit Kwong (Kelantan) and Labong (Johor) — recorded water levels below 50 per cent.

“The government has decided to carry out cloud seeding operations daily. When water levels at rivers and lakes are low, it could lead to pollution,” Mr Wan Junaidi said.

“The Cabinet has ordered ministries to take precautionary measures.”

He said the Department of Environment had detected 1,460 cases of open burning, between Jan 1 and Monday (April 25).

There are six areas where forest and peat fires continue to burn. They include Beris and Lalang mukim in Bachok, Kelantan, Kuala Langat Forest Reserve, Gunung Arong, Mersing in Johor, Kampung Durian Guling, Marang in Terengganu, Kampung Batu 7, Dungun in Terengganu, and an oil palm plantation in Felda Bukit Kemadol, Kuala Langat in Selangor.

“I have directed the department to take action on offenders.”

He also proposed the government take over land on which fires were allowed to burn unchecked.

“Existing laws are unable to prevent open burning ... so we want firmer action. In Sarawak, we call it ‘re-enter the land’ where the land is handed over to the government.

Kota Baru and Machang in Kelantan had been without rain for the past 23 days while Kudat had not experienced rain over the past 15 days. The other areas that have not seen rain for more than 10 consecutive days include Besut in Terenggganu and Mersing in Johor. THE MALAY MAIL ONLINE