Malaysia: Singapore refuses Johor cloud seeding

ZAZALI MUSA The Star 23 Jul 15;

JOHOR BARU: Singapore has put a dampener to a suggestion to conduct cloud seeding over two Malaysian dams here which are experiencing critical water levels.

The island will not allow for any cloud seeding to be carried out at Sungai Lebam dam in Kota Tinggi and the Layang dam in Pasir Gudang because the activities have been deemed to be encroaching into its territory.

Both dams supply water to some 760,000 people.

Johor would have to find other alternatives following Singapore’s refusal, said state public works, rural and regional development chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad.

He added that another suggestion would be to transfer water from Sun­gai Johor to the Sungai Lebam dam, and from the upper Sungai Layang to the Layang dam.

He said the two rivers would act like the feeders for the two dams but if the water levels at the dams were to drop drastically, operations at the dams would be shut down imme­diately.

Hasni added that the present dry spell was also causing the water le­­vels in Sungai Johor and Sungai Layang to fall.

SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd may have to start scheduled water supply if water levels at the two dams did not improve over the next few weeks.

SAJ corporate communications head Jamaluddin Jamil said water levels at the two dams had dropped drastically in the past two months.

“There are 14 dams in Johor but only the Sungai Lebam and Layang dams are the ones facing the critical situation,” he said.

Jamaluddin said the water level at the Sungai Lebam dam had dropped to 9.87m (which is the critical level) from 12.27m, and Layang dam from 23.50m to 19.72m.

The Sungai Lebam dam supplies water to about 160,000 consumers in Pengerang, Bandar Penawar, Desaru and Gugusan Felda Air Tawar.

The Layang dam channels water to 600,000 users in Pasir Gudang mostly industrial users and also parts of Johor Baru.

Singapore refutes claim that it refused to allow cloud-seeding in Johor
The Star 25 Jul 15;

JOHOR BARU: Singapore has refuted claims that it does not allow cloud-seeding operations over the Sungai Lebam and Layang dams in Johor.

Instead, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has always cooperated with Malaysia's Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to facilitate flight activities including for such operations.

The Consulate-General of Singapore here, in a statement Friday, said Singapore had not been approached recently on cloud-seeding operations, whether by DCA or any other Malaysian agency.

"Singapore fully supports cloud-seeding efforts in Johor, especially during this dry spell, and has previously offered to assist in efforts to fight forest fires," it added.

It also said that Singapore's water agency PUB also cooperated closely with its Malaysian and Johor counterparts.

Both sides have also been working together on projects such as the Johor River Barrage to increase water resources in Johor.

It said claims that Singapore had refused to allow cloud-seeding operations because such activities were deemed to encroach into Singapore's territory, were baseless.

Singapore was responding to a news report which quoted Johor Public Works, and Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad saying that Johor would have to find other alternatives following Singapore's refusal.

The two dams, which serve some 760,000 people, are currently experiencing critical water levels.

The water level at the Sungai Lebam dam has dropped to 9.87m from 12.27m and the Layang dam to 19.72m from 23.50m.

If the water levels at the two dams do not improve in the next few weeks, SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd may have to start scheduled water supply, according to the news report. – Bernama

We support Johor cloud seeding, says S’pore
The Star 26 Jul 15;

JOHOR BARU: Singapore says it is surprised by Johor state exco member Datuk Hasni Mohammad’s claims that the republic did not allow cloud seeding operations over the Sungai Lebam and Layang dams.

In a media statement released yesterday, the Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore here said the claim was baseless.

It also rubbished another claim by Hasni on Thursday that cloud seeding was not allowed as it was deemed to be encroaching into Singapore’s territory.

Consul Gavin Yap said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore had always worked closely with Malaysia’s Department of Civil Aviation to facilitate various flight activities.

“Singapore has not been approach­­ed recently on the cloud seeding operations, whether by DCA or any other Malaysian agencies.

“If Datuk Hasni has information indicating otherwise, he should share it with Singapore so that we can look into the matter,” he added.

Yap said Singapore fully supported cloud seeding efforts in Johor, especially during this dry spell, and had previously offered to assist in such efforts to fight forest fires.

He said Singapore’s water agency PUB also cooperated closely with its Malaysian and Johor counterparts.

Singapore refutes claims that it blocked cloud-seeding operations in Johor
Today Online 25 Jul 15;

SINGAPORE — The Consulate-General of Singapore in Johor Baru has refuted claims that the Republic had refused to allow cloud seeding over two dams in the southern Malaysia state which are experiencing critical water levels.

Malaysian media reports on Thursday cited Johor state public works, rural and regional development chairman Hasni Mohammad as saying that Singapore had refused to allow cloud-seeding operations at Sungai Lebam dam in Kota Tinggi and the Layang dam in Pasir Gudang as the activities would purportedly encroach into Singapore’s territory.

He added that Johor would have to find other alternatives to top up the dams’ water levels following Singapore’s alleged refusal. Both dams supply water to some 760,000 people.

In a statement issued on Friday evening (July 24), the Consulate-General said that Singapore has not been approached recently on cloud-seeding operations.

“Singapore fully supports cloud-seeding efforts in Johor, especially during this dry spell.

“We are surprised by Johor State Exco member Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni bin Haji Mohammad’s claims,” said the Consulate-General in its statement.

“Such claims, including his assertion that this is because such activities are deemed to encroach into Singapore’s territory, are baseless.”

The Consulate-General added that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has always coordinated closely with Malaysia’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to facilitate various flight activities.

“Both sides have also been working together on projects such as the Johor River Barrage to increase water resources in Johor.

“Singapore has not been approached recently on cloud-seeding operations, whether by DCA or any other Malaysian agencies. If Datuk Hasni has information indicating otherwise, he should share it with Singapore so that we can look into the matter.”

Singapore disputes Johor official's cloud seeding claim
AsiaOne 26 Jul 15;

JOHOR BARU - Singapore has disputed a Malaysian official's claims that it refused to let Johor carry out cloud seeding above two dams due to territorial concerns.

Water levels at the dams have dipped below critical marks in the Malaysian state.

State public works, rural and regional development chairman Hasni Mohammad reportedly said Singapore would not allow cloud seeding at the Sungai Lebam dam in Kota Tinggi and the Layang dam in Pasir Gudang as it would encroach into its territory. As a result, Johor would have to find alternatives, said Datuk Hasni, according to The Star in a report on Thursday.

In a statement issued the following day, the Consulate-General of Singapore in Johor Baru expressed surprise at the claims which it dismissed as "baseless".

"On the contrary, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has always coordinated closely with Malaysia's Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to facilitate various flight activities," it said.

"However, Singapore has not been approached recently on cloud-seeding operations, whether by DCA or any other Malaysian agencies. If Datuk Hasni has information indicating otherwise, he should share it with Singapore so that we can look into the matter."

The Consulate-General stressed that Singapore fully supports cloud-seeding efforts in Johor and has previously offered to assist in such efforts to fight forest fires.

It added that Singapore's national water agency PUB also cooperates closely with its Malaysian and Johor counterparts. Singapore and Malaysia have been working together on projects such as the Johor River Barrage to increase water resources in Johor, it noted.

The two dams supply water to some 760,000 people. SAJ Holdings, which is responsible for water supply services in Johor, said that if the water levels at the dams were to drop drastically, operations would have to be shut down immediately.

Johor seeking flight regulators' permission to conduct cloud seeding
ZAZALI MUSA The Star 27 Jul 15;

JOHOR BARU: Johor submitted a formal letter to the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) on Sunday to seek permission to conduct cloud-seeding operations.

State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the DCA would then forward the letter to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

He said it would normally take at least two weeks for the CAAS to respond to the request.

"The water level at the Sungai Lebam is dropping day by day, so we hope Singapore will speed up the approval, " said Hasni.

He said this in a press conference after attending the Hari Raya open house celebration organised by Johor Petroleum Development Corporation on Monday.

Hasni said if no cloud-seeding operations were to take place within the next two weeks, SAJ Holdings Sdn Bud would have to start scheduling water supply.

Johor hoping for a quick OK from S’pore
The Star 28 Jul 15;

JOHOR BARU: Johor hopes Singapore will give fast approval to its request to conduct cloud seeding over Sungai Lebam and Layang dams in view of the critical water levels at the two dams.

Yesterday Johor sent a letter to the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) in Kuala Lumpur. Rural and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the DCA would then submit the formal request to its Singaporean counterpart, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), on Johor's intention to conduct cloud seeding operations.

“Normally, it takes two weeks for the CAAS to get back to DCA. But in view of the current situation, we hope to start the operation as soon as possible,” said Hasni at a press conference yesterday after attending the Hari Raya open house organised by Johor Petroleum Development Corporation.

He added that the cloud seeding should be conducted within the next 14 days, adding that Johor did not want to miss the window period deemed a good time to conduct the exercise.

He said the water level at the Sungai Lebam dam had dropped to 9.72m (which is the critical level) from 12.7m and Layang dam from 23.50m to 19.43m.