Malaysia: Speed up talks to carry out cloud-seeding -- Khaled

The Star 25 Aug 15;

PASIR GUDANG: Johor is asking Putrajaya to speed up talks with Singapore to carry out cloud-seeding due to a drop in water levels at the Sungai Layang dam.

Mentri Besar Datuk Khaled Nordin said the island republic understood the problems faced by the people in Johor and had given the green light for the process.

“However, they (Singapore) want an official letter from the Federal Government,” he said.

“This matter will be done by the Government as the procedures require the involvement of both countries. I hope Putrajaya will expedite it,” Khaled said after a visit to the dam near Kong Kong here yesterday.

He said currently, the water level at the dam stood at 19m, which is below the critical 23.5m.

The dam supplies water to some 116,000 accounts throughout Pasir Gudang and certain parts of Johor Baru.

Khaled added that currently the authorities had to pump water from Sungai Johor to the Sungai Layang dam.

“The state government will also look into any development projects near the dam area and rivers to make sure the water supply would not be affected in the long term.”

He also said the weather had played a major factor which caused the water level at the dam to drop.

“We recorded less rainfall than last year,” Khaled said.

“The changing weather is a global phenomenon and Johor is not the only place affected by it.”