Malaysia: Cloud seeding to be conducted over west coast dams

News Straits Times 24 Mar 14;

MALACCA: Cloud seeding will be conducted by the Meteorological Department from next month over all dam areas on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah said among the dams involved would be the Muda Dam and Pedu Dam in Kedah; Klang Gates Dam in Kuala Lumpur; and Jus Dam in Jasin near here.

He said cloud seeding would also be carried out following demands from dam operators.

"We use Cessna aircraft for the job and will start in the north, namely, in Kedah, to the south in Johor," he said after launching a 2014 World Meteorological Day celebration and opening the Malacca Meteorological Department office here yesterday.

He said cloud seeding was only 85 per cent successful.

Gunung Jerai hit by bush fires
New Straits Times 24 Mar 14;

GURUN: The dry spell has triggered a series of bush fires near the peak of Gunung Jerai in the past week.

The latest blaze occurred yesterday morning and affected some 15ha near the mountain peak.

Guar Chempedak Fire and Rescue Department chief Abdul Muin Ayob said a team of firemen was dispatched to the scene after being alerted at 8.30am.

"Seven firemen took more than seven hours to control the fire," he said yesterday.

Abdul Muin said firefighters had to use the fire beater technique to put out the fire as water supply could not reach the spot.

He said firemen were in the midst of containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to other areas.

In Perak, the surrounding areas of Gua Tempurung in Gopeng was given a good clean-up by local celebrities in conjunction with "Perak Hijau dan Bersih Bersama Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABPBH) 2013" programme yesterday.

The presence of 14 celebrities and finalists of ABPBH 2013 added a star- studded feel to the programme which was part of Berita Harian's corporate social responsibility programme.

Families reduce Qing Ming burning due to haze
The Star 24 Mar 14;

JOHOR BARU: The haze and long dry spell will have an effect on the upcoming Qing Ming Festival (Chinese All Souls Day) as well – families observing the festival this year are choosing to burn fewer joss sticks and less paper in an effort not to worsen the air quality.

Mechanic Choong Chee Leng, 35, said his family chose to be more environmentally friendly as the past two months had been very dry and hot in Johor and other parts of the country.

“We will keep the burning to a minimum this year and will only burn necessary items like hell notes, paper clothing, paper houses and cars for my grandparents,” he said when met at the cemetery in Tebrau here yesterday.

Factory supervisor Giam Yee Wei, 46, said her family usually spent about RM500 on prayer items to burn for her ancestors but they cut this down by half this year.

“Our country just had rain a week ago, so we do not want to do much open burning and contribute to any bush fires,” she said.

She said her family arrived at the cemetery from Gelang Patah at 7.30am yesterday and noticed that other families were also burning fewer items this time round.

Singaporean Joseph Phua, 55, also encouraged his family to cut down on the items they burned so that they would not harm the environment.

“Burning fewer items can help save the environment and money. I am sure our ancestors will understand,” added the father of three.

The festival, where families will clean their ancestors’ tombs, give offerings and burn prayer paraphernalia which replicates dollar notes, cars, clothes and houses, falls on April 5 this year.