Govt to act on cloud seeding without waiting for state requests

KUCHING: The federal government will no longer wait for state requests before carrying out cloud-seeding operations when weather conditions warrant them.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the move formed part of the government’s shift towards anticipatory action in dealing with haze, with preventive and preparedness measures to begin earlier based on weather forecasts, data and risk assessments.

He, who is also National Disaster Management Council chairman, said the possibility of prolonged hot and dry weather due to El Niño required early preparations covering hotspot monitoring, firefighting readiness, peatland management, enforcement against open burning, cloud-seeding readiness, health information for the public and coordination between the federal and state governments.

He said cloud-seeding operations (OPA) had previously been conducted at least three times following requests from the Sarawak government.

“We should not wait for a request to conduct cloud-seeding operations.

“We must obtain professional advice from MetMalaysia to look at wind and cloud movements that could bring rain to a particular location, especially where several reservoirs are experiencing declining water levels and the situation has become very critical,” he said.

He said this at a press conference after chairing the High-Level Committee Meeting on National Disaster Management at Wisma Bapa here today.

Zahid said the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) would coordinate with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in determining when and where cloud-seeding operations could be carried out.

He said MetMalaysia would provide advice on the presence and movement of rain-bearing clouds, particularly where additional water was needed at particular catchments or reservoirs.

“We discussed this in detail.

“This means we are taking proactive steps to carry out cloud seeding based on professional advice and the services provided by the RMAF,” he said.

He said NADMA would coordinate OPA when atmospheric conditions permitted, while other mitigation and response measures would also be undertaken because cloud seeding was not the only method of addressing haze.

He also announced a RM5 million allocation for cloud-seeding operations and related operational management in 2026, comprising RM2 million for the first phase approved on June 2 and RM3 million for the second phase approved on Sept 2.

“Prolonged hot and dry weather could also place pressure on water supplies for domestic, agricultural and industrial use.”

He said the Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia and Department of Environment had been asked to examine the potential use of tube wells as alternative water sources.

He added that this would include identifying areas with groundwater potential, assessing the condition of existing tube wells and undertaking repairs or upgrades where necessary.

“Preparations need to be made earlier, particularly in areas at risk of water supply pressure, and not only after a crisis occurs,” he said.

Zahid also pointed to measures undertaken by the Sarawak government involving blue tanks and the physical delivery of clean water.

He said these measures should no longer have to be relied upon if coordination between the federal and state governments was properly carried out.

“In Sarawak now, with the state government’s efforts involving what are called blue tanks and the physical supply of clean water, this should no longer have to be done if coordination is carried out between the federal and state governments,” he said.

He also referred to Rural Water Supply projects, saying implementation had been handed to state government agencies in Sabah and Sarawak.

“We hope the allocations are genuinely channelled to pay the suppliers and contractors appointed by the state government or the ministry,” he said.

He said NADMA would continue strengthening coordination between federal and state agencies in addressing haze through cooperation with the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry under the National Haze Action Plan.

“The coordination is intended to ensure agencies remained prepared and could act according to changing conditions without waiting for the situation to become more critical or its effects on the public to worsen.”