SHAH ALAM: Cloud seeding operations will be carried out in stages across 13 areas in three states from Sept 3 to 5 as worsening haze affects Sarawak and hot weather pushes reservoir levels to critical levels in Kedah and Perlis.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said operations in Sarawak would cover the areas of Batang Ai, Bakun, Murum, Bengoh, Gerugu, Assyakirin, Sika and Matang to help ease the effects of the haze.
In Kedah, cloud seeding will be conducted over the Pedu, Muda, Ahning and Beris dams, while the Timah Tasoh Dam in Perlis will also be targeted to address critically low water levels caused by hot weather.
The operations will be conducted by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) in collaboration with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
“The cloud seeding will be carried out as soon as possible. We will ask MetMalaysia to advise us on areas where the haze has reached dangerous levels so that operations can be directed to the most severely affected locations,” Ahmad Zahid told reporters here today after officiating the 2026 Rural Youth Convention, which was also attended by Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said urgent assistance was needed in Sarawak as widespread fires in Kalimantan had affected about three-quarters of the state.
Earlier, five areas were reported to have recorded hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, with Serian registering the highest at 415.
According to the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), as of 6 am, Kuching recorded an API of 405, followed by Samarahan at 369, Sri Aman at 355 and Sarikei at 328.
Four other areas in Sarawak recorded very unhealthy readings, namely Sibu at 298, Mukah at 228, Bintulu at 221 and Samalaju at 218.
Meanwhile, unhealthy readings were recorded at ILP Miri (184), Miri (178), Kapit (176) and Limbang (166). — BERNAMA
