JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 13 — Malaysia needs to brace itself for the Super El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to bring scorching weather between March and May next year, potentially breaking the country’s record high temperature of 40.1 degrees Celsius.

Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the country’s maximum temperature could exceed 41 degrees Celsius, based on analysis of the current intense El Niño phenomenon, alongside the impacts of climate change and global warming.

“If we look at current climate change trends, the rate of temperature increase in the country is approximately 0.13 degrees Celsius per decade.

“It has been nearly 30 years since 1998, when combined with the temperature spikes associated with El Niño, the increase could exceed one degree Celsius above the 40.1-degree record set back then. We anticipate that temperatures reaching 41 degrees Celsius or higher are likely to occur. That is our projection,” he said.

He made these remarks at a press conference following the National Climate Forum 2026 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) here today. The forum, themed “Preparedness Today, Resilience Tomorrow,” was attended by over 500 participants from various government departments and ministries.

Malaysia previously recorded its highest-ever temperature of 40.1 degrees Celsius in Chuping, Perlis, on April 9, 1998, during the 1997/1998 El Niño episode, while the peak temperature during the 2015/2016 episode was 39.3 degrees Celsius, recorded in Batu Embun, Pahang, on April 10, 2016.

JOHOR BAHRU: Operasi Pembenihan Awan (OPA) dilaksanakan di sekitar Johor Bahru, hari ini bagi membantu menghasilkan hujan dan mengurangkan kesan jerebu yang dijangka berterusan dalam tempoh dua hingga tiga hari lagi.

Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (MetMalaysia), Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, berkata operasi itu dilaksanakan selepas keadaan jerebu di Johor memenuhi prosedur ditetapkan, selain keadaan cuaca semasa yang sesuai untuk proses pembenihan awan.

Beliau berkata, Johor pada asalnya tidak termasuk dalam perancangan OPA minggu ini yang memberi tumpuan kepada kawasan utara Semenanjung, namun operasi berkenaan dilaksanakan susulan keadaan jerebu semasa.

"Berdasarkan prosedur berkaitan jerebu, OPA boleh dilaksanakan apabila bacaan Indeks Pencemar Udara (IPU) melebihi 150 selama tiga hari berturut-turut, tertakluk kepada keadaan cuaca bersesuaian," katanya pada sidang media selepas menghadiri Forum Iklim Kebangsaan 2026 di Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), di sini hari ini.

Mohd Hisham berkata, fasa peralihan monsun ketika ini turut menyediakan keadaan lebih kondusif bagi operasi berkenaan susulan udara yang lebih lembap serta potensi pembentukan awan hujan yang lebih tinggi.

"Sekarang sudah fasa peralihan monsun, udara lembap dan kebarangkalian pembentukan awan hujan tebal itu tinggi. Bila kita buat operasi ini, kita mahu pastikan kawasan sasaran itu menerima hujan," katanya.

Bagaimanapun, beliau berkata, keadaan jerebu di Johor dijangka berterusan dalam tempoh dua hingga tiga hari lagi berikutan tiupan angin dari kawasan kebakaran di Kalimantan, Indonesia dan keadaan lebih mencabar apabila kawasan berkenaan dilaporkan tidak menerima hujan sejak beberapa bulan lalu.

Katanya, selagi kebakaran berterusan dan arah angin kekal membawa asap ke Johor, keadaan jerebu berpotensi berulang walaupun hujan dapat dihasilkan menerusi OPA.

Mohd Hisham berkata, MetMalaysia menjangkakan arah angin mula berubah kepada timur laut dalam tempoh satu hingga dua minggu atau sekitar penghujung bulan ini, yang berpotensi membantu mengurangkan kemasukan asap ke Johor.

Sebanyak 20 kawasan di seluruh negara mencatat bacaan IPU pada tahap tidak sihat setakat jam 9.30 pagi ini, dengan lapan daripadanya di Johor.

Berdasarkan portal Sistem Pengurusan Indeks Pencemar Udara Malaysia (APIMS) Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS), lapan kawasan di Johor yang mencatat bacaan tidak sihat ialah Pasir Gudang (181), Larkin (175), Kota Tinggi (169), Pengerang (166), Batu Pahat (161), Kluang (153), Tangkak (149) dan Segamat (133).

Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) proposed that the education ministry announce the next day’s school arrangements by noon on the preceding day, instead of waiting until the evening.

“While we recognise that haze conditions can change rapidly and urgent announcements may sometimes be unavoidable, earlier communication should be the standard practice whenever circumstances permit,” it said in a statement.

Magpie said earlier notice would help parents arrange childcare and transport while giving teachers time to prepare lessons and alternative learning plans.

“A more predictable announcement system would help all stakeholders prepare responsibly, without compromising the health and safety of our children,” it said.

Education minister Fadhlina Sidek had defended the day-to-day approach to school closures, saying that closure decisions must account for changing air quality and the impact on students’ learning.

She also explained that haze management involved several agencies, with the environment department responsible for air quality and the health ministry providing guidance on health risks.

The education ministry, meanwhile, focussed on students’ safety and the management of school operations based on prevailing conditions, she said.

State education directors have also been tasked with announcing school operational decisions based on air pollutant index (API) readings and the ministry’s guidelines.

School closures must be announced by 2.45pm on Saturdays for Group A schools and Sundays for Group B schools, and by 5.45pm on other days, based on the API readings.

Group A schools are those with a Friday-Saturday weekend, and Group B with a Saturday-Sunday weekend.

However, Engage and Projek SAMA questioned the differing API thresholds and closure decisions during the recent haze episode in Johor, including the statewide closure of schools for two days.

“Together, they have produced uncertainty over a basic question: who is authorised to make the final decision, using what criteria, and with what notice?” they asked in a joint statement.

They said sudden closures could force parents who failed to arrange childcare to miss work, while lower-income families might not have suitable conditions to keep their children indoors safely.

“A closure policy must, therefore, be accompanied by practical support, not simply an instruction to stay home,” they said.

As such, Engage and Projek SAMA called for school closure decisions to be based on transparent, science-based criteria that took into account air quality readings, exposure duration, weather forecasts, indoor air conditions and health risks.

They also urged the government to establish a permanent National Haze Operations Room, or an equivalent coordinating body, to bring together relevant ministries, agencies and state governments.

ALOR SETAR, Oct 13 — All schools in Kedah will operate as usual tomorrow, with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings across the state remaining below 100 as of 2pm today.

In a statement, the Kedah State Education Department (JPN) said any decisions on school closures or reopening due to the haze would be subject to the Education Ministry’s directives, based on JPN’s monitoring of daily API readings and local developments.

“Kedah JPN will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with the District Education Offices and schools to safeguard the health, safety and well-being of students and education personnel,” it added. — Bernama