KUALA LUMPUR: The ongoing Southwest Monsoon since May 10 has led to dry and hot weather conditions nationwide, with a high number of rainless days expected to continue until September.

Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said thunderstorms and heavy rain are still occurring from time to time, particularly in the western regions of the peninsula, northern Sarawak, and western Sabah during the mornings.

He added that similar weather is also seen in the interior areas of the peninsula, Sarawak, and Sabah in the evenings and at night.

"The squall line phenomenon, which brings heavy rain and strong winds to the west coast of the peninsula, northern Sarawak and western Sabah, may also occur especially in the early morning when atmospheric conditions are favourable," he said when contacted.

He said during the seven-day period from June 10 to 16, most weather stations recorded temperatures below 35°C, except for Batu Gajah in Perak which recorded 36.7°C on June 15, and Limbang, which hit 36.5°C on June 13.

"The temperature readings have dropped slightly at all stations following rainfall in recent days," he said.

"At present, MetMalaysia has not issued any heatwave warnings due to the rainfall observed over the past few days."

On sea conditions, he said a Category One strong wind and rough sea warning had been issued, with waves reaching up to 3.5m high and wind speeds of up to 50km/h in the northern Straits of Melaka and Phuket waters.

The advisory remains in effect until Thursday, June 19.

Commenting on the El Nino phenomenon, he said it was expected to remain in a neutral phase, with overall weather conditions likely to stay at average levels.

"According to agencies monitoring the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the phenomenon is expected to remain in a neutral phase until October, and during this phase, weather conditions are forecast to remain average."

"A detailed explanation of rainfall amounts in each district over the coming months is available on the department's website at https://www.met.gov.my/data/climate/tinjauancuacajangkapanjang.pdf," he said.

Mohd Hisham also advised the public to stay hydrated and limit outdoor activities during periods of extreme heat, as well as to wear appropriate clothing.

"In the current hot and dry weather, drink plenty of water, avoid excessive outdoor activities, and wear suitable clothing. If outside, wear a hat or use an umbrella.

"Open burning should also be avoided as it can lead to haze and environmental pollution.

"The public is advised to seek verified weather updates via our official website, the MyCuaca app, MetMalaysia's social media channels, or contact the hotline at 1-300-22-1638 for further enquiries," he said.

DAR ES SALAAM, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities on Tuesday called on citizens and environmental stakeholders to join forces with the government in the fight against desertification and drought, emphasizing the importance of collective action for the well-being of current and future generations.

Speaking in the Shinyanga Region during the commemoration of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, Khamis Hamza Khamis, deputy minister in the Vice President's Office responsible for union and environment, reaffirmed Tanzania's commitment to the global target of restoring 1 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030.

Khamis noted that Tanzania is among the countries severely affected by drought, and highlighted the government's proactive steps, which include engaging sectoral ministries, public institutions, development partners, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and religious organizations.

He announced that the government has developed a national action plan aimed at combating desertification and mitigating the impacts of drought.

Khamis also urged the public to continue planting and nurturing trees as a key measure to reduce drought-related impacts, especially in critical sectors such as water, agriculture, and livestock.

AL-MARAH, Syria (June 18): In the hillside town of Al-Marah, nestled in the Qalamoun mountains north of Damascus, the legendary Damascene rose is facing one of its most difficult seasons in recent memory.

A symbol of Syria’s cultural and botanical heritage, the Damask rose has bloomed for centuries in this rugged landscape. Once the village’s economic backbone and a source of global pride, the delicate flower now struggles to survive amid shifting climate patterns.

“This year has been one of the worst,” said Mohammad Jamal Abbas, a local farmer also known as Abu Qusai. “Rainfall was only about 20 millimeters, around 25 percent of the average. We used to get 125 or 150 millimeters. Add to that a wave of heat, then another of severe cold. All of it affected production.”

Speaking to Xinhua, Abbas explained that they began irrigating the bushes solely to preserve their survival, not for any specific production or other purposes. Their primary objective was to ensure that the bushes did not perish.

Syria is currently experiencing a severe drought, potentially the worst in 36 years. The drought has led to a significant drop in wheat production and widespread water scarcity. UN humanitarian office has warned that the drought could push 60 percent of the population closer to hunger.

But Abbas, like many others in Al-Marah, refuses to abandon the rose that has shaped their identity. “This is our labor, our work through all these years. It is impossible to give up. We are here every day.”

The practices and craftsmanship associated with the Damask Rose were inscribed in 2019 on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The annual harvest starts in May. Families venture into the fields at dawn to handpick the roses, then gather in the afternoon to sort the buds for drying into tea and prepare the rest for distillation. Women come together to make rose syrup, jam, and pastries, singing traditional songs as they work.

Diaa al-Khatib, farmer and school principal, recounted to Xinhua how farming was the main business in their town before bad weather forced many farmers to change jobs.

“In the past, this was the main income for most of the village’s farmers. Now, due to drought, it’s become secondary. Very few still depend solely on the Damask rose. Production is down, profits are down, so people have turned to other work.”

The link to the Damascene rose, however, is deeper than economics. “We can’t let go of it. It’s an inheritance from our ancestors,” al-Khatib said. “There’s a spiritual connection. When you give something your effort, you grow attached.”

Over the past four to five years, Al-Marah has not seen snow, which the rose depends on for nourishment. Farmers now use supplementary irrigation to compensate, though not enough to transform the fields into fully irrigated land.

“We’re not trying to switch from rain-fed to irrigated farming,” al-Khatib said, explaining that it would change the characteristics of the Damask rose. The farmers say the rose, which is renowned for its special flagrance, and heady-scented oil, is their heritage.

Despite setbacks, the rose continues to attract attention. “We’ve seen more foreign delegations visit than in previous years,” said al-Khatib. “They came, took reports on how the rose is grown and irrigated. But whether this interest will turn into something tangible for us, we still don’t know,” he said. – Xinhua

PASIR MAS: In a community-led effort to bolster flood preparedness in Kelantan, a coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has delivered 25 emergency rafts, valued at RM100,000, to residents in the flood-prone areas of Rantau Panjang and Bakong.

The initiative is a collaborative partnership between the Kelantan Disaster Response Network (KDRN), the Rotary Club, the Archdiocesan Office for Human Development (AOHD) and local building materials supplier AKUBIG Sdn Bhd.

KDRN Commander Peggy Lua said the floating platforms are designed to help residents safeguard essential items during flooding, particularly electrical appliances and food supplies, which are often damaged or lost during the annual monsoon season.

“Five to six families can use each raft. They’re built collaboratively with local villagers and they provide a practical, low-cost way to protect belongings,” Lua explained.

The project began modestly in Pahang with a budget of just a few hundred ringgit but was later expanded to Kelantan in response to growing demand.

Lua said they have also raised an additional RM30,000 to continue building more rafts.

“Last year we built 35 units. This year, 25 more are being delivered and we plan to add another 10 soon,” she said.

Mohd Ariffin Ismail, village chief of Mukim Lubuk Gong and coordinator for the recipients, confirmed that the rafts will be distributed across six villages, including Bakong, Kubang Pak Itam, Kuala Jambu, and Tok Abu.

Mohd Salleh Nor, 55, one of the recipients, said the assistance was especially valuable for lower-income families.

“Before this, I used a wooden platform to keep things above water. But once the floodwater reached waist level, it became almost impossible. Now, living with just my child, this raft has made a big difference,” he said.

Lua added that the team is actively fundraising to continue scaling up the initiative, aiming to deliver more rafts in the coming months as flood risks persist.