KUCHING: Sarawak is set to conduct cloud seeding operations from Sept 3 to 5, subject to favourable meteorological conditions.
Deputy Premier and Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the operations aim to mitigate the worsening haze and replenish critically low dam water levels.
“Before this, we conducted two cloud seeding operations in May and June after Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) warned that dam water reserves had reached dangerous levels due to the dry weather.
“We have informed the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) about this so they can continue with the operations,” he said during a press conference at Wisma Bapa Malaysia today (Aug 31).
Uggah said MetMalaysia had identified Sept 3 to 5 as the most suitable window for the operation.
He added that a coordination meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (Sept 1), with operations expected to continue until conditions normalize.
Addressing public queries on the timing of the response, Uggah explained that the process relies heavily on specific atmospheric conditions.
“The public must understand that cloud seeding uses salt, and crucially, requires suitable cloud formations. If the environment is not conducive, the operation cannot proceed,” he said.
He stressed that launching operations without adequate cloud cover would be ineffective and wasteful.
“It is not that we are ignoring the people’s plight. If we fly the aircraft and get no results, the public will be even more dissatisfied,” he added.
