KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 – The Meteorological Department director-general, Datuk Che Gayah Ismail has denied using strong chemicals for cloud seeding, leading to rain which can have a negative effect on human skin. He denounced that the message being spread via WhatsApp as false on Monday.
She said that they never use strong chemicals, on the contrary they only use regular salt which will not have any effect on humans. The message read: “Friends from TUDM (RMAF) just called to alert that they are using strong chemical to make rain. This might affect the skin. So please stay away from the rain these few days and if (one comes) in contact, rinse promptly.”
“The public have been asked not to believe this false information and spread the message which will only cause confusion among the public on cloud seeding. The acid rain will only occur when pollutants contained in the haze react chemically with rain water,” Che Gayah explained when she were asked by Bernama.
“My department was always ready to conduct cloud seeding to tackle the current haze. Cloud seeding this time around will focus on the Klang Valley as the air quality in the area is still at an unhealthy level,” she added. Meanwhile, the department’s atmospheric science and cloud seeding division director, Maznorizan Mohamad said department officials were on standby at Subang Airport awaiting for permission from the control tower to begin cloud seeding.
