Malaysia: Sarawak says all ready for dry El Nino weather

sharon ling The Star 26 Mar 19;

KUCHING: Sarawak is prepared to face the dry spell stemming from the El Nino weather phenomenon, readying about 1,000 vehicles and boats to deliver water to villages as needed.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said although this year's El Nino was weak, it was expected to last until May and had already caused dry weather with less rain.

"Several villages and longhouses are facing water shortage, so we have decided that the disaster management committees at divisional level will continue with their preparations for the dry spell.

"All the committees have been equipped with vehicles and allocations for water delivery. The Rural Water Supply Department will also deliver water where necessary.

Uggah said water must be delivered within six hours of receiving a complaint of water shortage.

"There was a directive from the Chief Minister recently that all the Residents (heads of administrative divisions) are to beef up their machinery on the ground to receive information and respond to complaints.

"Our KPI is that six hours after receiving a complaint, the village must have water," he said.


Pahang has enough water to last until May
T.N. Alagesh and Siti Insyirah Tajuddin New Straits Times 26 Mar 19;

KUANTAN: There is enough water in the state’s four dams to meet the needs of the people.

State Basic Amenities, Public Delivery System and Innovations Committee chairman Datuk Seri Norol Azali Sulaiman said the water in the Chereh (Kuantan), Klau (Raub), and Anak Endau and Pontian (Rompin) dams would last throughout the dry season until May.

Norol Azali said the Kobat water intake point and the Bukit Kenau and Panching water treatment plants in Kuantan were still taking water from Sungai Kuantan.

“Since the water processing plants in Kuantan still rely on water from Sungai Kuantan, the state government has not released the (Chereh) dam water and will continue monitoring the river’s water levels.

“Discussions will be conducted with the Drainage and Irrigation Department to monitor the river’s water level before we decide to open the dam.

“When required, Pengurusan Air Pahang Bhd will be informed to release the water from the dam,” he said after visiting the Chereh Dam.

Norol Azali said the drop in water levels at the Chereh Dam was not the result of the hot spell, but due to the damaged embankment at the Kobat barrage gate last year,

He said currently the water level at the Chereh Dam was 63m with a volume of 125 million cubic metres.

He said the dam had a capacity of 250 million cubic metres.

“Since it was built in 2008 until last year, the Chereh Dam’s water level had not dipped below 69m, but the current level was because the dam released water between February and September last year to raise the water level in Sungai Kuantan after the sand bund at the Kobat barrage gate broke due to heavy rainfall.

“The dam (Chereh) has yet to return to its maximum level, but the supply is sufficient until the end of the dry season, which is expected in May. We hope it will rain soon.”

Norol Azali said Felda Chini settlers were facing water woes because their main source of raw water was Sungai Mentiga. He said they were not supplied by a dam.

“When the river water level dropped, the intake point will not be able to process the water and this causes a disruption.

“Plans to build a water retention pond at the Sungai Mentiga intake was approved by the previous government, but has yet to be implemented.

“We hope Felda will look into it soon.

“Although we have enough water, I would like to advise people to use water wisely as we do not know when it will rain and if the hot spell will last longer.”

Meanwhile, a Pahang Water Regulatory Body spokesman said the authorities were monitoring Chereh dam’s water levels daily.

He said it was still at a comfortable level, but he was concerned that the dry weather may drag on beyond May.


Hot and dry spell sees decline in number of dengue cases in Penang
Bernama New Straits Times 26 Mar 19;

GEORGE TOWN: The number of dengue cases in Penang has declined over the past month due to the current hot and dry spell, according to the state health department.

State Health Department director Dr Wan Mansor Hamzah said the dry conditions meant there were fewer areas with stagnant water to allow Aedes mosquitoes to breed.

However, he said despite the current decline, the total number of cases so far this year was still higher than the tally for the same period last year.

“The summer (period) may be one of the factors causing the decline in dengue fever cases. At the beginning of the year, there was a steep rise in the number of dengue cases, but it has dropped slightly over the past one month,” he told Bernama today.

According to a statement issued by the Penang Public Health Department on March 22, there was a reduction of 19 cases in the 11th week of this year.

However, the cumulative total as of March 16, was 1,936 cases, compared to 850 cases for the same period last year. - Bernama