Malaysia: MADA alerts paddy farmers to use dry direct seeding method, limited water supply for 2017 season

MASRIWANIE MUHAMADING New Straits Times 26 Dec 16;

ALOR STAR: Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) has urged paddy farmers in the Muda area to employ the dry direct seeding method for the upcoming season in January 2017.

MADA chairman Datuk Othman Aziz has said that the implementation of the method was necessary following the low water level in the state’s three reservoirs, namely, Muda, Pedu and Ahning.

Up till Dec 22, Othman said that the total amount of water in all three water reservoirs stood at 74,154.5 hectare metre or about 49.16 per cent.

Based on the current record, water supply in all three reservoirs is about 47.2 per cent less than the available supply in the same period last year, which was recorded at 140,455.2 hectare metre.

He said, as such, the current water supply available may not be able to meet the demands of paddy farmers in the upcoming season.

Othman said the low water level at the dams was due to the El Nino phenomenon which occurred earlier this year, affecting the rainfall pattern in the country.

“Looking at the situation, we believe that the amount of water in the reservoirs may not be able to meet the needs of the paddy farmers to proceed with the cultivation process for the 2017 season.

“Hence, paddy farmers are urged to prepare themselves to use the alternative method, dry direct seeding, which is more suitable during this time when water supply is limited,” said Othman during a press conference at the Grand Alora Hotel here today.

He added, since MADA was established in 1972, the Muda area has previously faced water shortage or dry season for five seasons in 1978, 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1993.

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Malaysia: Get ready for a wet, wet new year

RAHIMY RAHIM The Star 27 Dec 16;

PETALING JAYA: Downpours and intermittent showers around the country are expected to persist until the end of the year causing floods especially in the east coast states.

The Meteorological Department issued a heavy rain warning for Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan with Maran, Bera, Rompin, Pekan, Kuantan and Jerantut in Pahang, and Terengganu likely to experience moderate intermittent showers until Wednesday during the mid north-east monsoon season.

“The heavy rain warning (Orange Stage) issued at 10.15pm on Dec 25 is still valid,” it said in a Facebook posting yesterday.

It said Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya were set to experience isolated rain until the new year mostly in the afternoon and evening.

Terengganu was on high alert between Dec 13 and Dec 22 following an earlier forecast of heavy rains and high tides of up to 3.5m in Kemaman.

The first wave of floods in several states in the peninsula had receded, but the wet weather due to the North-East monsoon will persist for those living in the east coast.

Early this year, authorities were pre-occupied with the big clean-up following the big floods that swamped many states, especially in the east coast.

Torrential rain which lasted for days caused several main rivers such as Sungai Galas, Sungai Lebir, Sungai Nenggiri and Sungai Kelantan to burst their banks, submerging almost all of the state’s districts.

Statistics from the Kelantan National Security Council showed that over 170,000 families were relocated to 170 relief centres at the height of the floods.

Kuala Krai was among the worst hit districts with 16,734 families reportedly affected.

This year, the authorities are already on standby while flood simulation exercises have been carried out with the Fire and Rescue Department as part of preparation to face the rainy season.

Science, Technology and Inno­vation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau had said Kelantan, Tereng­ganu, Pahang and eastern Johor were expected to get more than 500mm of rainfall this month.

Heavy rain is expected over Kelantan beginning yesterday until Wednesday.

Johor and Sarawak (Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah and Bintulu divisions) can also expect heavy downpours from Wednesday until Friday.

Updates on the weather conditions are available on MetMalaysia’s website at www.met.gov.my, myCuaca mobile application, Facebook malaysiamet, Twitter @malaysianmet or MetMalaysia Hotline 1-300-22-1638.


Typhoon Nock-Ten detected off Kudat, Sabah
BERNAMA New Straits Times 26 Dec 16;

KUALA LUMPUR: Typhoon Nock-Ten has been detected 852-kilometres north east of Kudat, Sabah at 8pm tonight.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department, in a statement, said the typhoon was detected at a latitude of 14.4 North and latitude of 118.4 East, moving in a westerly direction at a speed of 25-kilometres an hour.

The department said strong northeast winds, measuring between 50 to 60 kmh, and waves as high as 4.5-metres, are expected to occur along Condore and Reef North waters until Saturday.

In addition, strong northeast winds at speeds of 40-50 kmh and waves as high as 3.5-metres are expected along waters in Samui, Tioman, Bunguran, Kuching, Reef South, Layang-Layang and Palawan until Saturday. Similar conditions are expected to occur in the waters of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, eastern Johor and Sarawak up until Saturday. "The conditions are hazardous to small boats, recreational activities and water sports," said the department. --Bernama


Water level at dam normal despite non-stop rain
The Star 27 Dec 16;

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The water level at the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam in Ringlet, Cameron Highlands is normal despite the non-stop rain.

Pahang Malaysian Civil Defence Force director Zainal Yusoff said the situation at the highlands was under control even though there were several incidents of landslides and flash floods reported on Saturday especially in Tanah Rata.

“So far, things are in order and water at the dam is at normal level too,” he said.

Non-stop rain on Saturday caused the water level at the dam to rise above 1,068.5m – higher than its normal level of 1,068.3m.

Residents in the surrounding areas at Bertam Valley would be evacuated if the dam’s water level exceeded 1,069.8m. — Bernama

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Malaysia: Terengganu on orange flood alert as major rivers rise

ZARINA ABDULLAH New Straits Times 26 Dec 16;

KUALA TERENGGANU: The state has issued an orange-level alert through its flood portal http://etindakan.terengganu.gov.my/ after heavy rains over the past three days raised the level of four major rivers here today. As at 8.40am, the portal said levels of major rivers in the state are higher than normal.

The rivers include Sungai Besut at Jambatan Keruak, which is at 30.16 metres, compared to its normal level of 28.50 metres, while the danger level is at 35m. In Setiu, Sungai Setiu at Jambatan Chalok, is at 7.63 metres compared to the normal level of 5m and the danger level of 9m. Sungai Nerus in Kampung Langkap is 3.83 metres higher than the normal level of 17 metres, while the danger level is 21.50 metres.

In Hulu Terengganu, Sungai Telemong at Kuala Ping is at 18.55 metres, compared to the normal level of 16.50 metres and the danger level of 19.70 metres. And Sungai Dungun in Kuala Jengai is at 19.73 metres, compared to the normal level of 14 metres and the danger level of 21 metres.

Terengganu flash floods see 63 evacuated
SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAWA The Star 26 Dec 16;

KUALA TERENGGANU: A heavy downpour which hit parts of Kemaman in Terengganu has caused flash floods in some low-lying areas, forcing 63 people from 17 families to flee to three evacuation centres.

State Civil Defence Force director Lt Col Che Adam A Rahman said the three evacuation centres were opened on Monday morning.

These were SMK Badrul Alam Shah in Kemasik where 26 people had fled to, Kampung Padang Kemunting hall (16 people), and Kampung Batu 9 in Ibok, with 21 evacuees.

Che Adam said the rain, which had started at about 2am Monday, saw waters inundating houses in some low-lying areas.

“The heavy downpour in Hulu Terengganu also saw Jalan Felda Mengkawang-Tersat being closed to light vehicles.

“Our men are also on standby,” he said when contacted.

The Meteorological Department issued a Yellow alert in Terengganu, where rain is expected all the way up to Wednesday.

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Sydney to swelter under December heatwave

Channel NewsAsia 27 Dec 16;

SINGAPORE: A heatwave established in the Southeast region of Australia on Christmas eve is expected to continue to intensify for the rest of the year, affecting major cities such as Sydney and Canberra.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) on Tuesday morning (Dec 27) showed that severe heatwave conditions are expected to persist through parts of New South Wales, eastern Victoria and Tasmania for the next three days.

BOM classifies a heatwave as three or more days of high maximum and minimum temperatures that are unusual for a specific location.

The sizzling weather is predicted to affect New South Wales capital Sydney, where temperatures are forecast to hit a high of 37°C on Thursday, and stay in the 30s until New Year's Eve before easing to a maximum of 26°C at the start of the new year.

According to Australian media reports, bushfires will be a serious concern amid the hot conditions.

The Daily Telegraph, noting the heatwave in Sydney, reported on Tuesday that there were 28 fires burning across New South Wales.

BOM also released a warning on Tuesday morning noting "worsening fire weather conditions" due to the "warm to hot" weather in South Australia.

By Thursday, "extreme" heatwave conditions are forecast near the mid-North coast of New South Wales, with daytime temperatures reaching 40°C on Thursday and 41°C on Friday.

The most severe classification of heatwaves used by the BOM, extreme heatwaves are "rare and exceptionally intense", impacting normally reliable infrastructure such as power and transport and posing a risk for even healthy persons who do not take precautions to keep cool, according to the BOM website.

These conditions are expected to persist over Northeastern New South Wales and Southeast Queensland - a region including Brisbane - over the New Year weekend.

- CNA/mz

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Best of our wild blogs: 26 Dec 16

Chek Jawa outing with the Naked Hermit Crabs
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Orange Striped Hermit Crab (Clibanarius infraspinatus) @ Changi Creek
Monday Morgue

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Typhoon Nock-ten lashes central Philippines, cuts power

Enrico Dela Cruz Reuters 25 Dec 16;

A typhoon slammed into central Philippines late on Sunday, bringing strong winds and heavy rains and cutting off power, but there were no immediate reports of casualties, weather officials and radio reports said.

Typhoon Nock-ten was packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph) with gusts up to 255 kph when it made landfall over Catanduanes province, which was under the highest storm alert, on the Bicol peninsula on Sunday evening.

The typhoon made a second landfall over Camarines Sur province, then weakened slightly with winds of 175 kph but gusts at 290 kph, the weather bureau said.

"We continue to pray, stay positive and stay alert. Brownout in a lot of areas already," Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Luis Villafuerte said in a post on his Instagram account.

Communication lines have been cut in some areas, radio reports said.

Around 218,000 people fled to evacuation centres after authorities warned of storm surges and flooding in coastal villages and low-lying areas.

Nock-ten could make another landfall early on Monday while moving west faster at 20 kph, from 15 kph previously, and crossing the provinces of Camarines Norte, Southern Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, and Cavite, weather forecasters said.

The typhoon's eye will be near Metro Manila on Monday afternoon, they said.

Land, sea and air travel has been suspended in some areas, leaving stranded thousands of people heading home for Christmas in the mostly Christian country.

In 2013, more than 6,000 people were killed and 200,000 homes destroyed when Typhoon Haiyan, the strongest-ever storm to make landfall in the Philippines, hit the central islands of Leyte and Samar.

About 20 major typhoons pass through the Philippines each year. Since 1948, at least seven have hit during the Christmas period.

(Editing by Ruth Pitchford)


Typhoon weakens but Philippines braces for floods, mudslides
Channel NewsAsia 26 Dec 16;

MANILA: A typhoon weakened as it cut across the Philippines on Monday with strong wind felling trees and power lines, and authorities warned of flash floods and mudslides but there were no official reports of casualties.

Typhoon Nock-ten, locally known as Nina, weakened to 150 kph (93 mph) as it headed west towards provinces south of the capital Manila, picking up speed to 20 kph.

A storm alert was in place and land, sea and air transport were all suspended as authorities told the public to take precautions and prepare for strong wind and heavy rain.

The Philippines is one of the world's worst-affected countries when it comes to typhoons, with an average of 20 a year passing or hitting the archipelago of more than 7,000 islands.

Tens of thousands of people in the predominantly Christian country spent Christmas in shelters after authorities moved them to safety on higher ground.

Emergency workers were mobilised to clear roads of debris, like fallen trees and power lines in the coconut-growing region, with some central areas plunged into darkness.

The typhoon was due to make a fifth landfall in Batangas on Monday then move towards Manila after its arrival in the country at Catanduanes province on Sunday evening.

Ricardo Jalad, head of the national disaster risk reduction management council, said there were no reports of deaths or missing people but communications were disrupted.

"We expect to get reports from the field as soon as power and telephone services are restored," Jalad said.

Radio DZBB reported a boy was killed in Quezon province when he was pinned down by a coconut tree and another girl injured in Camarines Sur when a house collapsed. The reports could not be immediately verified.

(Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Martin Petty, Robert Birsel)

- Reuters


Christmas typhoon leaves four dead in Philippines
AFP Yahoo News 27 Dec 16;

LIGAO (Philippines) (AFP) - A powerful typhoon left at least four people dead and eight missing as it crossed the Philippine archipelago on Monday, spoiling the Christmas holidays with strong winds, heavy rains and destructive flooding.

Nock-Ten made landfall on the eastern island province of Catanduanes with gusts of 235 kilometres (146 miles) an hour on Christmas Day, ravaging the Bicol region and surrounding areas before moving west across the country.

A couple perished in a flood while an elderly man was crushed to death by a falling wall, the governor of Albay province, Al Bichara, told local media.

Another person was killed and two more were injured when the storm toppled a power line in Quezon province, electrocuting them, a police report said.

An anchored ferry went down off the coastal province of Batangas on Monday with eight crewmen still missing, said coastguard officer Joy Villegas.

Two people also died after suffering heart attacks during the storm but it was unclear if those deaths were directly related to the typhoon, local government reports said.

More than 383,000 people were forced to flee their homes while over 80 domestic and international flights were cancelled due to the storm, the civil defence office said.

The coastguard on Sunday ordered beaches south of Manila to be cleared of holidaymakers by Monday.

The unusually late storm cut off electricity to millions and forced government agencies to order evacuations of whole communities in Bicol, marring the traditional Christmas celebrations in this largely Christian nation.

- Wet Christmas -

In the Bicol town of Ligao, many streets and surrounding farms were covered by ankle-deep water while some homes remained caked in mud left by flooding.

Masseuse Erna Angela Pintor, 20, said she and her family spent a sleepless Christmas in fear as the strong winds ripped off part of their roof.

Neighbours living near a river sought refuge in their home as the waters rose to their chests, she said, though her own family was luckier.

"The floods (last night) only reached to our knees. Thank goodness the current wasn't that strong," she told AFP.

"This was supposed to be a celebration but we cannot celebrate. This is a sad Christmas for us. No one (in the family) died but a lot of our neighbours' homes were washed away."

The disaster monitoring council said more than 12,000 people spent Christmas stuck at ports after authorities barred ferries from sailing due to the storm.

The council's spokeswoman Mina Marasigan also said hundreds of people in Bicol celebrated Christmas in evacuation centres where many had to make do with emergency food packs.

Some local officials had offered roast pigs -- the traditional Filipino holiday fare -- to entice people to go to the shelters, Marasigan said.

- Manila spared -

By late Monday afternoon the typhoon had weakened, with wind gusts of 180 kilometres per hour, and was in the South China Sea heading west away from the country, government weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said.

Nock-Ten had been expected to bring heavy rains and winds to Manila, but the city of 13 million residents was spared after the typhoon lost force as it crossed the eastern islands.

"It was like a blessing in disguise. Every time it hit land, its diameter lessened. It also lost moisture so it became weaker," Quitlong told AFP.

Some 20 typhoons and storms strike the Philippines each year, routinely killing hundreds of people.

Huge tsunami-like waves devastated the city of Tacloban and nearby areas when super typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines in November 2013, leaving 7,350 people dead or missing.

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Philippines: 2 dead, dozens hospitalized due to red tide poisoning in Region 8

GMA News 25 Dec 16;

Two people have been reported killed while 38 others were hospitalized in separate red tide poisoning incidents in Eastern Visayas, a report said Sunday.

Citing information from Department of Health-Region 8, GMA News reported that one of the fatalities was an 81-year-old man who ate the shellfish he bought from Carigara, Leyte last Thursday. The other was a nine-year-old girl from Barangay Tucdao in Kawayan town, who was declared dead upon arrival at the Biliran Provincial Hospital.

Four other people from Kawayan town had been taken to the hospital due to red tide poisoning.

On December 22, shellfish tainted with red tide toxin downed six people from Barangay Balaguid in Cabucgayan town. One of the victims is still recuperating in a hospital.

On December 23, 30 people in the town of Maripipi, also in Biliran, fell victim to red tide poisoning, the report said.

Two of the victims are still under observation at the rural health unit in Maripipi, one was taken to the Biliran Provincial Hospital, and another one was sent to the Tacloban Hospital. The remaining 26 have been discharged.

Boyd Cerro, chief of the DOH regional epidemiology unit in Eastern Visayas, told GMA News that most of the victims had gotten ill after eating shellfish they found floating in the bay.

Cerro said the DOH will continue its monitoring for victims of red tide poisoning, which has no cure.

Also, he advised the public to immediately bring victims of red tide poisoning to the nearest hospital to get additional IV fluids, IV Cannula, and Macrosets.

The DOH reminds the public to refrain from eating shellfish in the areas declared red tide infested.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has a standing red tide warning in the Biliran Bay, Maqueda Bay in Catbalogan, Samar and Carigara Bay in Leyte. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/LBG, GMA News

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Arctic heatwave could break records

Victoria Gill BBC News 24 Dec 16;

Temperatures at the North Pole could be up to 20 degrees higher than average this Christmas Eve, in what scientists say is a record-breaking heatwave.

Climate scientists say these unseasonably warm weather patterns in the Arctic region are directly linked to man-made climate change.

Temperatures throughout November and December were 5C higher than average.

It follows a summer during which Arctic sea ice reached the second-lowest extent ever recorded by satellites.

Dr Friederike Otto, a senior researcher at Oxford's Environmental Change Institute told BBC News that in pre-industrial times "a heatwave like this would have been extremely rare - we would expect it to occur about every 1,000 years".

Dr Otto added that scientists are "very confident" that the weather patterns were linked to anthropogenic climate change.

"We have used several different climate modelling approaches and observations," she told BBC News.

"And in all our methods, we find the same thing; we cannot model a heatwave like this without the anthropogenic signal."

Temperatures are forecast to peak on Christmas Eve around the North Pole - at near-freezing.

The warm air from the North Atlantic is forecast to flow all the way to the North Pole via Spitsbergen, giving rise to clouds that prevent heat from escaping.

And, as Dr Otto explained to BBC News, the reduction in sea ice is contributing to this "feedback loop".

"If the globe is warming, then the sea ice and ice on land [shrinks] then the darker water and land is exposed," she said.

"Then the sunlight is absorbed rather than reflected as it would be by the ice."

Forecasting models show that there is about a 2% chance of a heatwave event occurring every year.

"But if temperatures continue to increase further as they are now," said Dr Otto, "we would expect a heatwave like this to occur every other year and that will be a huge stress on the ecosystem."

Dr Thorsten Markus, chief of NASA's Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory, said the heatwave was "very, very unusual".

"The eerie thing is that we saw something quite similar (temperatures at the North Pole of about 0C in December) almost exactly a year ago," he told BBC News.

The freeze and thaw conditions are already making it difficult for reindeer to find food - as the moss they feed on is covered by hard ice, rather than soft, penetrable snow.

Asked if the conditions on Christmas Eve were likely to affect Santa's all-important journey, Dr Markus said he was confident that his sled would cope with the conditions.

He added: "Santa is most likely overdressed though. Maybe in the future we'll see him in a light jacket or plastic mac."

Read more!

Best of our wild blogs: 25 Dec 16

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Flash floods across Singapore cause massive traffic disruptions

Today Online 24 Dec 16;

SINGAPORE — Flash floods and severe traffic disruptions were reported at several locations across Singapore on Saturday evening (Dec 24) following heavy rain.

At the junction of Paya Lebar Road and Sims Avenue, traffic was stuck due to some cars stalling, said Facebook user Tony Lee. Mr Lee also claimed that oil drums and debris were seen floating at the location, with the traffic jam tailed all the way to Eunos.

Another Facebook user Kay Muk also said that “many” cars had stalled along Paya Lebar Road. “Do not drive there”, he warned.

Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel were also at Paya Lebar Road helping to extract passengers from what appeared to be a stalled car. SCDF said that it received a call for assistance at about 6pm and had to "manually assist" two persons from the car, but no injuries were reported.

The National Environment Agency issued a weather alert at 5pm, forecasting thundery showers over many areas of Singapore in the evening.

Since 5.45pm, the Land Transport Authority has warned on Twitter of flash floods in at least five locations across Singapore. The areas affected by flash floods are:

Newton Circus (towards Woodlands) after Cavenagh Road
Stevens Road near Anderson Road/Balmoral Park Junction
Balmoral Road near Balmoral Crescent/Balmoral Road Junction
Cairnhill Road near Cairnhill Road/Scotts Road Junction
PIE (towards Changi Airport) at Stevens Rd Exit
Accidents were reported at the following locations, according to the LTA:

Braddell Road (towards Bartley) after Bishan Road. Avoid the left lane.
Macritchie Viaduct (towards Braddell) after PIE
KJE (towards BKE) at Choa Chu Kang Rd Entrance
AYE (towards Tuas) after Lower Delta Rd Exit.


Flash floods hit Singapore on Christmas Eve
Channel NewsAsia 24 Dec 16;

SINGAPORE: Flash floods were observed in several parts of Singapore on Saturday (Dec 24), the day before Christmas.

According to the Land Transport Authority's Twitter page, the areas affected are:

Newton Circus (towards Woodlands) after Cavenagh Road
Stevens Road near Anderson Road/Balmoral Park Junction
Balmoral Road near Balmoral Crescent/Balmoral Road Junction
Cairnhill Road near Cairnhill Road/Scotts Road Junction
PIE (towards Changi Airport) at Stevens Rd Exit

Photos sent to Channel NewsAsia also show the streets of Upper Thomson Road flooded with water on Saturday afternoon.

Various users on social media also noted that traffic the area near the junction of Paya Lebar Road and Sims Avenue were stuck due to the floods.

At around 4.33pm, PUB Singapore tweeted that heavy rain was to be expected from 4.40pm to 6pm over many areas across the island.

- CNA/hs


Shops in Upper Thomson Road hit hard by Christmas floods
Saturday's heavy rain hits shops along Upper Thomson Road especially hard
Isabelle Liew The New Paper 28 Dec 16;

It poured on Christmas Eve and the water that gushed into The Roti Prata House at Upper Thomson Road brought with it soil and insects, and knocked over two chillers.

An ice cream parlour located along the same road had to throw away almost $3,000 worth of ice cream, while a tyre shop suffered losses worth thousands of dollars when its equipment broke down.

About eight businesses along Upper Thomson Road were affected by the flood. A waiter at The Roti Prata House, Mr Syed Ridzwan, told The New Paper yesterday that the water in the kitchen was knee-deep. The shop suffered losses of about $15,000.

"All our spices, flour, gravy and rice were spoilt. We had to throw away everything. Two of our chillers fell over and were damaged. A dishwasher was also damaged," he said.

He said the water brought in soil and cockroaches as well. The Upper Thomson MRT Station construction site is nearby.

Mr Syed added: "The flood started at around 5.30pm and subsided by 7.30pm. We cleaned until 4am because it was difficult to scrub the soil off."

He said: "We lost many customers on Saturday and Sunday. Christmas is my (peak) business time and we will usually see a full house."

The eatery resumed regular business on Monday.

SHORT CIRCUIT

An employee at the ice cream parlour, Udders, who declined to be named, said the water in the shop was ankle-deep, resulting in a short circuit of the refrigerator.

The shop switched off all its equipment after that, for fear of being electrocuted.

She told TNP: "We waited for an hour before turning it on. As a result, we had to throw away all our ice cream in the pans as well as the pints in the freezer because they melted and we can't refreeze them.

"Soil, cockroaches and centipedes came in with the water. In the kitchen, dead rats floated from the drain."

The employees closed the shop at 5.30pm to clean up, and resumed business at around 8.30pm. She estimated losses to be about $3,000.

Udders is also planning to put sandbags near the doors, she said.

Nearby shop Tai Huat Tyres and Batteries lost one of their five machines in the flood.

Owner Eu Ah Lek, 79, said the machine, which they use to fix tyres to cars, can cost up to $10,000.

He noted that the flood was the worst he had seen since opening his shop at Upper Thomson Road 31 years ago.

The heavy rain also affected Newton Circus, Balmoral Road, Cairnhill Road and the Pan Island Expressway near Stevens Road, according to the Land Transport Authority.

It also caused traffic jams near the junction of Paya Lebar Road and Sims Avenue, according to social media.

PUB Singapore said in a tweet that wetter weather is expected during this North-east Monsoon season.

On Dec 22, four Singapore-bound flights were diverted to Batam, Indonesia, due to bad weather here.

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Malaysia, Sabah: Dead dolphin, found on a beach in Kota Belud

KRISTY INUS New Straits Times 24 Dec 16;

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) is checking on a dolphin’s carcass found washed up on a beach in Kampung Pintasan, Kota Belud.

Facebook user, Ishee Ishmael, posted, “Dolfin terdampar… pertama sekali seumur hidup nampak secara live… tapi sayang sudah mati” (Stranded dolphin… saw one live for the first time in life… unfortunately it is dead).

He also shared several shots of the mammal this afternoon as well as a video recording of his discovery.

SWD assistant director Dr Sen Nathan when contacted said the Department’s Wildlife Rescue Unit team has been deployed to the location to investigate and collect the carcass.

“We will conduct a post-mortem as soon as possible.

“The public should contact the department or alert the authorities should they stumble upon a case like this, which is related to wildlife,” he said.


Stranded dolphin died of stomach complications, says Sabah Wildlife Department
KRISTY INUS New Straits Times 25 Dec 16;

KOTA KINABALU: The rough-toothed dolphin washed ashore at the Kampung Pintasan beach in Kota Belud yesterday has died of stomach complications after ingesting a squid jig.

Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) assistant director Dr Sen Nathan told the New Straits Times that a post mortem revealed that the eight-inch squid jig was imbedded in the mammal's stomach, causing severe trauma and other complications.

"This adult male dolphin could not eat properly and died of septicaemia caused by the severe wound that the squid jig inflicted in the dolphin's stomach.

"It was a fresh carcass...We estimated it probably died within 24 hours (since being washed ashore).

But the jig had been in the stomach for some time," he said when contacted. Yesterday, a Facebook user shared photographs of the carcass of a steno bredanensis (rough toothed dolphin), estimated around six feet in length.

Policeman Ismail Daud, via his Facebook account named, 'Ishee Ishmael', also shared a video recording of the discovery made sometime after 4pm.

Ismail, 42, said he had stopped by the beach with his family when they stumbled upon the carcass.

"At first I thought it was a piece of wood... We only realised what it was when we got nearer," he said, adding that it was his first time seeing a dolphin upclose in person.


Dolphin may have died from fishing hook infection
The Star 27 Dec 16;

KOTA KINABALU: The rough-toothed dolphin that washed onto the shore of Kampung Pintasan was likely to have died due to infections caused by indigestion after it consumed a squid attached on a hook.

Sabah Wildlife Department assistant director Dr Sen Nathan said that an eight-inch long hook attached to a squid was found embedded in the stomach of the male adult dolphin during the post-mortem.

“It caused severe trauma and other complications and it died of septicemia (infection) and starvation as it could not eat properly or digest its food,” he said yesterday.

Dr Sen said it could be possible that the dolphin had suffered for at least a month before it died.

“It’s sad to see such a beautiful marine wildlife lose its life due to possible human folly even if it was caused indirectly,” he said.

It was possible the dolphin could have bitten into the squid attached to a hook from an angler or fishermen, he added.

The department’s director Augus­tine Tuuga said it sent its wildlife rescue team to the scene after a Facebook user highlighted the pre­sence of the dolphin carcass along the shore of Kampung Pintasan on Christmas Eve.

Witnesses who see this kind of marine mammals beaching can call the department hotline at 012-801 9289 or send an email to rhinosbh@gmail.com.



Squid jig found in stomach of dolphin carcass
The Star 26 Dec 16;

KOTA KINABALU: Fresh carcass of an adult male Rough Toothed dolphin was found on the shore at Kampung Pintasan, Kota Belud, about 75km from here, on the night of Christmas eve with a squid jig stuck in its stomach.

Sabah Wildlife Director Augustine Tuuga said the squid jig measuring eight inches was embedded in the stomach causing severe trauma and other complications.

"We immediately dispatched our Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) to further investigate this case and to find out what happened to the dolphin.

"Though it was Christmas eve, WRU had a team on standby to attend to these kind of cases," he said in a statement here.

Sabah Wildlife Assistant Director Dr Sen Nathan said the WRU team brought the carcass back to Kota Kinabalu for post mortem and was saddened by the discovery of the squid jig.

He said the metal jig, used for catching squid, also led to septicemia (blood poisoning) and starvation, resulting in the mammal's death.

"It is sad to see such a beautiful marine wildlife lose its life due to human folly, even if it was indirectly related.

"I would like to also advise the general public that if they do come across this kind of marine mammal beaching in the future, do give the Sabah Wildlife Department a call at 0128019289 or email us at rhinosbh@gmail.com," he said. - Bernama

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Indonesia: Peatland restoration helps prevent forest fires

Fardah Antara 25 Dec 16;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Set up nearly a year ago, Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) has wasted no time in protecting and restoring peatlands and, consequently, preventing wildfires in Indonesian forests.

The destruction of peatlands and forest fires are closely linked, because clearing and draining peatlands for oil palm and pulpwood plantations are major causes of Indonesias recurring fire and haze crises.

Last year, haze produced by forest fires impacted the health of thousands of people in South-East Asia, particularly in Sumatra and Kalimantan Islands, and cost Indonesias economy an estimated $16.1 billion, according to data from the World Bank.

And this year, Indonesia remains haze free, after two decades of experiencing annual forest fires that triggered haze and chocking much of the public, Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya has confirmed.

"For the first time, in 2016, we did not experience major forest fires, thanks to the joint hard work of many in the regions. The number of hotspots decreased by 80 to 92 percent, according to the NOAA and Terra satellite methods," the minister said on Dec 10, 2016.

The government has set up an integrated forest fire control team comprising, among others, military and police officers, as well as a preventive and early detection mechanisms to curb forest fires.

Additionally, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), under Presidential Regulation No. 1 of 2016, dated January 6, 2016, established BRG to prevent forest fires, particularly those affecting peatlands, and to restore areas destroyed by fires.

The president ordered the body to draft an action plan to immediately demonstrate to the world that Indonesia is serious about handling the destruction caused to peatland areas.

Jokowi has appointed Nazir Foead as chief of the new agency, describing him as a competent and experienced figure. The agency is a non-structural body under the president and is answerable to him.

Indonesias peatlands are estimated to cover an area of 20.6 million hectares, or about 10.8 percent of Indonesias total land area, of which some 7.2 million hectares, or 35 percent, is located on Sumatra Island.

Peat is partially decayed, dead vegetation, which has accumulated over thousands of years. It is typically saturated with water and, therefore, virtually impossible to set on fire.

Peatlands help to preserve water resources, mitigate flooding, prevent sea water intrusion, support biodiversity, and control the climate through the absorption of carbon and storage.

But when peatlands are cleared to make way for plantations, as they are for palm oil, pulp and paper, carbon-rich peat becomes tinder dry and vulnerable to fires.

BRG has set a target of restoring between two and three million ha of peatland areas.

The task is being carried out through cooperation with several institutions and ministries, such as the environmental affairs and forestry ministry, the public works and housing ministry, the agriculture ministry, the agrarian and spatial layout ministry, and the National Development Plan Agency (Bappenas).

In the first stage, the agency has initiated on-field activities to restore over 800,000 hectares (ha) of peatland areas spread across four districts - Meranti Islands in Riau; Ogan Komering Ilir and Musi Banyuasin in South Sumatra; and Pulang Pisau in Central Kalimantan.

"The (restoration) cost is estimated to reach Rp12 million per ha for five years," BRG Head Nazir Foead informed the press in March 2016.

Additionally, the government has imposed a moratorium on the clearing of land in peatland areas, in line with new government regulation (PP) No. 57/2016 on the revision of PP No. 71/2014 on Peat Ecosystem Management and Protection.

The revision ruled that there should be no land clearing and no issuance of new licenses in peatland areas, especially for deep peatland, Secretary General of the Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry Bambang Hendroyono said in early December 2016.

Signed by President Jokowi on Dec 2, 2106, regulation no 57/2016 also states that no drainage should be performed, as it causes the peat to dry out, and no fires can be set in peatland areas. Even traditional communities have been barred from setting fires in peatland areas.

The new PP places a permanent moratorium on peatland exploitation, stating that everyone is prohibited from clearing new land until a zoning system for the protection and cultivation of the peatland ecosystem is in place.

"PP No. 57/2016 shows the solid commitment of President Joko Widodo to the protection of peatland ecosystems," stated San Afri Awang, who works with the Forestry Planology and Environmental Management section of the Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry.

Natural succession, rehabilitation, and restoration are ways of improving the peatland ecosystem. "Natural succession means restoration without any human intervention," he explained.

In addition to the regulation, the government will also intensively monitor peatland restoration efforts.

Minister Siti Nurbaya has issued an assignment letter to San Afri, placing him in charge of a peatland restoration monitoring team.

"The government is very serious (about this). We will monitor it continuously and impose sanctions against violators. This is proof of the governments serious commitment to peatland restoration," Awang added.

As a long term program, BRG has developed innovative technologies to consistently maintain the moisture of peatland in three provinces.

"We ensure the optimal protection of peatland in several Indonesian regions using sophisticated technology developed by the nations experts," Foead stated, after accompanying President Jokowi to visit a peatland site in Pulang Pisau District, Central Kalimantan Province, on Dec 21.

The agency will install the technology to measure water levels and humidity in peatland areas.

The data will be uploaded every hour to the BRG data center, where the technology is managed by the Agency for Study and Application of Technologies, and Hokkaido University of Japan.

If the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency anticipates a lack of rain in the coming days, the BRG will irrigate the peatland area to maintain its optimal humidity, he explained.

The peatland agency will become involved with the local community and authorities in its efforts, he said, adding that maintaining peatland humidity is crucial to prevent fires, since dried peatland is prone to fire.
(T.F001/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

BRG to complete installation of 2,000 wells in C. Kalimantan
Antara 25 Dec 16;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) said, it would soon complete installation of 2,000 wells in peatland areas in Central Kalimantan Province.

"In Central Kalimantan Province, we have planned to install 2,000 wells around the peatland," chief of the BRG, Nazir Foead, said.

Of the 2,000 wells, BRG has a commitment to build 400 wells, while local administrations would install 200 wells. The remaining 1,400 wells would be installed by private companies located around the peatland areas.

"As of now, BRG has built 230 wells. The agencys task is to facilitate and worked on coordination with all stakeholders, so that the development of 2,000 wells would be conducted under BRGs concept and methods," he said.

However, he continued, the agency would allow the community to make some improvements on its development.

The agency has allocated Rp3 million for development of each well, although some companies have allocated higher budgets for it.

In addition to Central Kalimantan, some non-governmental organizations have installed similar wells in South Kalimantan and Riau, in cooperation with local universities.

"They need help from local universities to conduct field surveys," he said.

In addition to wells installations, BRG has also blocked canals to control the height of water in peatlands to keep them moist using sacks.

"We also receive funds from the Ministry of Public Works (PUPR) to build canal blocks in 140,000 hectares of peatland areas. The funds came from the ministry," he said.

He expressed hope that they would build additional canals in 2017, using improved structures.

(Reported by RH Napitupulu/Uu.S022/INE/KR-BSR/S012)

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