Malaysia: Impact of the heatwave

Cloud-seeding to begin for northern states
The Star 11 Apr 16;

KANGAR: The Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) will carry out cloud-seeding operation in the northern states of the peninsula starting Tuesday.

According to MetMalaysia source, the operation will take place over a certain period of time, which has yet to be finalised.

"Now seems to be the most suitable time to conduct the cloud-seeding operation in the northern states, especially between noon and 3pm, but it all depends on the atmosphere and the presence of suitable clouds," he told Bernama here Monday.

He said the operation, which would begin in Bayan Lepas, would cover the northern states in the peninsula, namely Penang, Perak, Kedah and Perlis.

In BAGAN SERAI, Perak Public Amenities, Infrastructure, Energy and Water Committee chairman Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin said the level of water supply at the Bukit Merah Dam had declined to 6.6m from the normal level of 8.68m due to the El-Nino phenomenon.

"If the situation persists, the dam will not be able to supply sufficient water to 4,697 hectares of padi fields in Selinsing and Semanggol, hence delaying the padi planting activity in the two districts," he told reporters after visiting the dam here.

He said the two districts should have received the water supply on Sunday, but the release of the water was rescheduled to April 20.

In KUANTAN, seven cases of heat exhaustion and one heat stroke case were reported in Pahang.

State health director Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the heat exhaustion cases were reported in Kuantan (three cases), Bentong (two), Bera (one) and Temerloh (one), while the heat stroke case was reported in Temerloh.

"All cases were due to the extreme hot weather condition and involved only adults," he told reporters after launching the state-level massive anti-aedes breeding operation here. - Bernama

Heatwave: Jerantut, Temerloh schools to close for another day
The Star 11 Apr 16;

KUANTAN: All schools in Jerantut and Temerloh will be closed for another day tomorrow (Tuesday) due to the extreme hot weather, said Pahang education director Datuk Rosdi Ismail.

He said the closure was decided as the temperature in the two districts was still high with Jerantut recording 38.5°C, and Temerloh, 37.8°C

"However, school staff and teachers will have to come to work as usual because this break is only for students," he said when contacted by Bernama on Monday.

On Sunday, the Education Ministry announced that all schools in Perlis, and Jerantut and Temerloh in Pahang would be closed Monday due to the hot, dry weather brought on by the El Nino phenomenon.

The Education Ministry was quoted as saying that the school closure was in consideration of students' health as the temperatures recorded in the affected areas exceeded 37°C for more than 72 hours. - Bernama

El Nino: 50,492 students affected in Pahang
BERNAMA New Straits Times 11 Apr 16;

KUANTAN: The directive to close schools due to the hot weather in the districts of Temerloh and Jerantut today involved 50,492 students, said State Education Department director Datuk Rosdi Ismail.

He said 155 schools comprising 38 secondary schools and 117 primary schools were ordered closed.

“A total of 13,476 secondary school students and 18,401 primary school pupils are affected in Temerloh.

“In Jerantut, affected are 7,401 students from secondary schools and 11,214 from primary schools,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

Yesterday, the Education Ministry via a media statement, ordered all schools in the two districts to be closed for a day after the temperature readings in the two areas exceeded 37 degrees Celcius due to the El Nino phenomenon.

Also ordered closed were schools in Perlis which had been closed thrice since the country was hit by the hot and dry weather a few months ago.

However, the directive to close only involve the absence of the students as a health measure and the school days missed do not have to be replaced.

Meanwhile, the administrative operations of the schools such as meetings, planning of teaching and learning activities and other routine tasks, which do not involve students, go on as usual. -- BERNAMA

Bottled water finally reaches Pulau Banggi
The Star 12 Apr 16;

KOTA KINABALU: The first shipment of bottled water reached the parched northern Pulau Banggi yesterday night but islanders will only get it today.

Assistant district officer for Banggi Awang Shahrin Awang Bakar said the 1,300 crates of bottled water would be distributed after a handing over ceremony by Banggi state assemblyman Datuk Abdul Mijul Unaini.

He told The Star when contacted yesterday that the bottled water was sourced from Kota Kinabalu and transported by lorry and reached Kudat this morning.

The bottles will be distributed to the hospital and islanders at three villages first.

“We have another shipment of 1,700 cartons after the first batch.”

Kudat district officer Sapdin Ibrahim said they appreciated any contributions from NGOs.