OFFICIAL PORTAL
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
SINGAPORE, March 20 — Singaporeans will have access to air-conditioned cooling spaces in community centres, residents’ committees, and selected indoor sports halls during extreme heat conditions, as part of a national heatwave response plan.
The Mercury Taskforce, a newly formed inter-agency group comprising 37 public agencies, including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, introduced the plan yesterday, Channel News Asia (CNA) reported.
The initiative aims to coordinate responses across sectors when a heatwave is forecast.
According to CNA, a heatwave in Singapore is defined as three consecutive days where the highest temperature reaches at least 35°C, with a daily mean of no less than 29°C.
When such conditions are expected, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) will issue a joint advisory outlining precautionary measures.
The report added that in addition to public cooling spaces, schools, outdoor sports facilities, and eldercare centres will reduce physical activities between 11am and 4pm.
It also said schools will also implement more relaxed dress codes, and eldercare residents will be closely monitored for signs of heat stress and dehydration.
Existing workplace safety measures will remain in place, including a requirement for workers performing heavy physical labour to take a 10-minute shaded break each hour.
While recent monsoon conditions have brought rain, Singapore is entering its hottest period of the year, typically from March to May.
Last year was the country’s warmest on record, with an April mean temperature of 29.4°C.
Officials expect above-normal temperatures this season, with a 60 per cent chance that averages will exceed 28.4°C.
Authorities stress the importance of public awareness, urging Singaporeans to take necessary precautions as the country adapts to a warming climate.
KUANTAN: Kebakaran di kawasan seluas 113 hektar hutan gambut di Pekan sejak 7 Mac lalu, mungkin berpunca daripada pembakaran terbuka.
Ketua Polis Pahang, Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman, berkata kebakaran itu tiada kaitan sebarang aktiviti tidak sihat terutama kes penyalahgunaan dadah.
Siasatan awal mendapati kawasan kebakaran itu bukan lokasi penagih dadah. Kawasan hutan gambut dan ladang itu terletak dalam tanah kerajaan dan milik persendirian.
"Kita juga bertemu ketua kampung dan dimaklumkan tiada maklumat mengenai kehadiran penagih dadah di kawasan terbabit," katanya ditemui selepas melawat bazar Ramadan di Tanjung Lumpur petang semalam.
Pada 16 Mac lalu, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) mendakwa kejadian kebakaran itu berpunca daripada perbuatan manusia terutama individu yang disyaki terbabit dalam penyalahgunaan dadah.
KUANTAN: A fire that has engulfed some 113 hectares of forest and a pineapple plantation near Kampung Cenderawasih in Pekan since March 7 may have been caused by open burning but is not linked to any drug-related activities.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the peat soil area which has been burning for more than two weeks was not a drug 'port'.
Yahaya said the police had met the village headman and were informed that there was no information about the presence of drug addicts in the area, which is located on both government and privately-owned land.
"Based on our police records, the forest and plantation area is not used as a drug port, nor is it secluded or surrounded by large trees.
"It is also unlikely that individuals involved in drug activities would burn down their own port.
"I have instructed the Pekan police chief, Superintendent Mohd Zaidi Mat Zin, to visit the fire site and gather more information about the incident, including whether it was caused by open burning," he told reporters after visiting the Ramadan bazaars in Tanjung Lumpur yesterday.
On March 16, the Fire and Rescue Department claimed that the large-scale fire incident at Kampung Cenderawasih was likely set up by individuals involved in drug abuse.
Meanwhile, Yahaya said open burning by the nearby plantation owners is believed to be the main cause of the fire and they will work closely with the Fire and Rescue department to identify if any arson was involved.
Firemen are still battling the fire near Kampung Cenderawasih which has to date destroyed an area measuring 113ha. So far, 93.36 ha have been successfully doused.
The fire has destroyed 16.2ha of pineapple farms at Kampung Cenderawasih, resulting in losses of more than RM150,000
On a separate matter, Yahaya said Pahang police approved more than 200 applications for permits to sell fireworks for Hari Raya Aidilfitri from all 11 districts across the state this year.
He said Kuantan recorded the highest number of approved permits with 60 and reminded traders not to set up stalls selling fireworks without a permit.
Floods hit Johor, 10 PPS opened
- Admin UKK
- Berita
JOHOR BARU: Heavy rain for several hours yesterday caused flooding in Johor, leading to the opening of 10 temporary relief centres (PPS) in three districts.
State Disaster Management Committee chairman Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani said 893 people from 257 families have been evacuated to the PPS as of 8 am today.
"Johor Bahru recorded the highest number of evacuees with 567 people, followed by Kulai (269) and Pontian (57).
"The water levels in three rivers have surpassed the danger mark, namely Sungai Siam at Kampung Sungai Siam (20.85 metres), Sungai Skudai at Kampung Laut (4.24 metres) and Parit Keliling at Kampung Pasir (1.01 metres)," he said in a statement today.
Azmi also said rain is expected in 10 districts in Johor this morning. – BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a severe-level continuous rain warning in Johor until Friday (March 21).
MetMalaysia said in a statement today that the areas forecast to be affected are Kluang, Mersing, Pontian, Kulai, Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru. It also issued an alert-level continuous rain warning in three — Pahang, Johor and Sabah — until Friday.
The areas forecast to be affected are Kuantan, Pekan and Rompin in Pahang; Tangkak, Segamat, Muar and Batu Pahat in Johor; as well as the west coast (Ranau and Kota Belud), Sandakan (Telupid, Kinabatangan, Beluran and Sandakan) and Kudat in Sabah.
Meanwhile, a similar warning has been issued in Sarawak until tomorrow, involving the areas of Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Kapit (Song and Kapit) and Bintulu. — Bernama