KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 – The hot and dry spell in the country has put Malaysian’s in a quandary of late but residents of Taiping, Perak – normally the ‘wettest’ town in the country – received some respite, as a two-hour rainfall on Tuesday ended a two-week long drought.
45-year-old businessman Lim Ah Bee said the sudden rainfall has given us some respite, as the weather has now become less hot. Housewife, Robiah Ahmad, 35, said the hot weather had limited her to coming out of the house only in the mornings to buy daily necessities, and the rain had provided some needed cooling down.
The El Nino phenomenon which has been sweeping the country lately, is also expected to affect paddy plantation output this year, according to Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Penang director Azmi Abdul Razak. Azmi said the paddy harvesting process was carried out last in January, and planting should begin in late March or early April but as of now, the Penang Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has not been able to supply water.
Meanwhile, members of the public are advised to adopt a regular and consistent diet and healthcare routine, with drinking lots of fluids including water and isotonic drinks, to replace the mineral salts lost while sweating during the hot weather. Perlis Health Director Dr Zaini Hussin said fluid intake was necessary regardless of the level of physical activity, to ensure the body does not get dehydrated.
The phenomenon, which causes extreme hot and dry spells, and according to the Meteorological Department expected to last until June this year, has also caused some concern over the water-levels in dams. However, Perak State Public Facilities, Infrastructure, Energy, and Water Committee chairman Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin has assured that water supply in the state was still sufficient.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili also said there was currently no need for water rationing in any state. Interestingly, the number of emergency calls received for snakes entering residence premises has doubled since the El Nino phenomenon began, as according to Kubang Pasu District Malaysian Civil Defence Department officer Kamarulzaman Kusa, the reptiles were also seeking shelter from the heat.
