The government is taking the hot weather phenomenon seriously following the monsoon transition, which began on March 29 and is expected to continue until May.

THE National Disaster Management Committee (NADMA) will coordinate and implement four series of cloud seeding operations (OPA) in Perak, Kedah, Perlis and Johor from April 6 to 9 to address the decline in dam water levels due to the hot weather.

Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said the government is taking the hot weather phenomenon seriously following the monsoon transition, which began on March 29 and is expected to continue until May.

"NADMA will coordinate and implement four series of OPAs in Perak, Kedah, Perlis and Johor from April 6 to 9. "This immediate action is a proactive measure to address the state's declining dam water levels," he said.

The OPA will focus on 11 dam locations, namely the Timah Tasoh Dam in Perlis; Ahning Dam, Pedu Dam and Muda Dam in Kedah; Temenggor Dam and Bukit Merah Dam in Perak and Lebam Dam, Upper Layang Dam, Lower Layang Dam, Gunung Pulai Dam and Machap Dam in Johor.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also NADMA Chairman, said they are collaborating with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) to provide a C130 Hercules aircraft and a team from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia) to coordinate the technical and scientific aspects of cloud seeding.

He said that all relevant agencies must channel information to the State Disaster Command Centre (SDCC) to be compiled and recorded centrally, including monitoring information on dam levels, raw water supply, soil moisture levels in critical areas, landslide risk areas, flood areas and other relevant information.

The centralised database enables the SDCC to analyse immediate actions that can be taken to ensure that the survival of the people is always preserved.

"As we strengthen this technical approach, I would like to emphasise that the government's response cannot be purely mechanical.

"The humanitarian approach must be the main thrust. We need to ensure that every intervention truly reaches those who are most affected, especially the low-income group, the elderly, small farmers and communities that are completely dependent on local water sources," he said.

He said all government agencies need to intensify actions to ensure that their respective target groups are not affected, especially in the food supply, agriculture, public health, education, entrepreneurship, animal husbandry and others that are expected to be affected. – April 1, 2026