ROSHIDI ABU SAMAH New Straits Times 8 Mar 14;
CAMERON HIGHLANDS: THE haze situation in the country did not reach critical levels and, in fact, is fast improving.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said yesterday the situation was expected to improve after several areas in the country started experiencing rainfall over the past few days.
"The country's Air Pollutant Index readings are not very high and has not become a major problem.
"Schools will only be closed if the index breaches the 200 level. If it reaches more than 300, then the public are advised to stay indoors," he said after opening the Empower East Coast Economic Region (ECER) Programme at SMK Sultan Ahmad Shah in Tanah Rata yesterday.
The Cameron Highlands member of parliament said unlike the previous haze incidences, which were caused by peat fires in Sumatra, the current haze was caused by domestic forest fires, triggered by the drought.
When opening the programme, Palanivel praised the ECER Development Council (ECERDC) for introducing unique training programmes th focused on content as well as confidence building among the poor.
ECERDC Pahang office general manager Mohd Mazlan Sharudin said Empower ECER was a twin-pronged human capital development initiative launched in 2010 to reduce economic disparities between rural and urban communities.
He said the programme comprised the Skills and Entrepreneurship programme for adults and an academic training programme for Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah, Penilaian Menengah Rendah and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination-year students.
"Since its launch in 2010, the programme has benefited 22,216 participants, comprising 8,725 adults and 13,491 students in 17 locations in rural areas of the ECER."
Sabah's hot spell to last till month end
New Straits Times 8 Mar 14;
KOTA KINABALU: The dry spell is expected to hit Sabah for the whole of this month and more bush fires are expected to occur.
Sabah Meteorological Department director Abdul Malek Tussin said the dry spell was due to absence of clouds and rain.
"As of today (yesterday), Tawau town recorded a temperature of 34oC, which is higher than the average temperature on most days, which is usually between 22oC and 33oC.
"Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Kudat are among the major towns that have yet to experience rain since March 1."
A state Fire and Rescue department spokesman said the department had received 69 reports of bush fires this month..
"As these fires mostly happened along the roadsides, firemen were able to take prompt action as the public notified us on seeing the fire."
The highest incidence of bush fires was recorded here, particularly near Bukit Sepanggar and the Polytechnic College. Isolated cases occurred in Ranau where farmers were clearing their land for planting.
"The public must be careful as even a cigarette or a tiny source of heat could ignite a spark and result in fire," said the spokesman.
Water rationing to continue
New Straits Times 8 Mar 14;
MORE AFFECTED: Third phase of exercise to begin on Monday
THE third phase of the water rationing exercise here and in Selangor will begin from Monday to March 31, with a total of 3.6 million consumers being affected this time around.
The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chief executive officer Datuk Teo Yen Hua said the third phase involved 722,032 households, which is an increase of 290,865 households as compared to the second phase which involved 431,167.
Teo, who was speaking at the SPAN headquarters in Cyberjaya yesterday, said the rationing would now be expanded within the six zones that had already faced the exercise as more neighbourhoods would be affected.
The six zones are Gombak, Kuala Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Hulu Selangor, Petaling, and the Klang/Shah Alam/ Kuala Langat/ USJ zone.
A total of 57,866 households in 133 areas will be affected in Gombak.
These areas include Taman Keramat, Wangsa Maju, Kemensah, Jinjang, Setapak, Bukit Antarabangsa and Bandar Sri Damansara areas, among others.
Sixteen areas in Kuala Selangor will experience rationing, while 113 areas in Kuala Lumpur, including Bangsar, Segambut, Sri Hartamas and the stretch from Jalan Ipoh to the Kepong roundabout in Jalan Kuching will also experience water rationing.
Another 38 areas in Hulu Selangor, including Bukit Beruntung, Bukit Sentosa, Bandar Baru Rawang, Hulu Bernam, Kuang and Serendah will also be affected.
A total of 141 areas in the Petaling zone will be affected, involving 232,875 households in Petaling Jaya, Kinrara, Puchong, Salak Selatan, Subang Jaya, among others.
Teo said said 83,132 households, including those in UiTM Puncak Alam in Shah Alam would be be affected by the rationing in zone six (Klang/ Shah Alam/ Kuala Langat/USJ).
Teo said rationing was being conducted in other states as the water levels in certain rivers had dropped.
"At present, Selangor, Johor and Negri Sembilan are the only states rationing water. The exercise is being done in two districts in Negri Sembilan, namely Jempol and Tampin, beginning Thursday following a drop in water levels in Sungai Muar affecting the Gemas Baru water treatment plant.
"Rationing for Kluang, Johor, which started on Feb 18 will continue, while Kelantan and Perak are taking precautions due to an alarming drop in river levels."
Teo said the third phase of water rationing was discussed in an earlier meeting with Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), SPAN, Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry and its operators.
"We believe this will help improve the water situation in the country," Teo said.
Present were Selangor Economic Planning Unit's Macro and Privatisation Section deputy director Nor Azmie Diron, who represented the state government and SPAN executive director for Water Regulatory Department, Marzuki Mohammad.
Syabas chief executive officer Sanusi Sulaiman, who was present at the same press conference, said water consumption should be limited to 180 litres per day for each household during the rationing.
He urged those not affected by the water rationing to be thrifty in their consumption of water and added that water supply would cut off every two days, alternating with affected zones to assure equal share of water for all areas.
The first water rationing exercise began on Feb 28 involving Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang, affecting 60,000 households.
The second phase began on March 2 which affected 358,342 consumers or 2.2 million people from 431,617 households in the same districts.
The public can contact the Syabas toll-free hotline at 1-800-88-5252 or send a text message by typing PUSPEL and sending it to 39222 or visit www.syabas.com.my, its facebook page or twitter account for further information.
No end yet to hot and dry spell
The Star 8 Mar 14;
PETALING JAYA: The current hot and dry weather is not expected to abate any time soon with the next seven days in all states expected to be without rain, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD).
On its website, the department announced its forecast of fair weather nationwide for seven days starting yesterday, with temperatures ranging from 24°C to 35°C.
Selangor and Kuala Lumpur residents experienced some respite from the weather with rain on March 3, thanks to a successful cloud-seeding exercise.
The department recorded total rainfall of 14.4mm at its Subang meteorological station and 23.8mm at its Petaling Jaya station between March 1 and March 6.
Although the figures seem small compared to the state’s normal average daily rainfall of 40mm, the department stated it was considered “quite a lot compared to other parts of the country in the peninsula”.
It also stated that the Klang Gates dam recorded the highest rainfall amount (13mm) on March 4, a day after cloud seeding. This was followed by Batu dam at 7mm and Sungai Tinggi dam at 6mm.
However, the Sungai Selangor dam, which supplies water to 60% of households in the state, recorded a mere 0.6mm. As of yesterday, water levels at the dam remained at about 43.24%, slightly above the critical zone of 40%.
Cloud seeding appeared to have helped clear hazy conditions as most places in the country recorded good and moderate API (air pollutant index) readings yesterday.
