Malaysia ramps up federal and state agency measures to mitigate the impact of a strong El Niño phenomenon expected to persist until early next year.
PUTRAJAYA: Federal and state government agencies are stepping up preparedness measures to mitigate the impact of a strong El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to persist until early next year.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) said preparedness strategies and response measures were presented by relevant agencies at the first National Haze and Dry Weather Steering Committee (JIJCKK) meeting for 2026 held here today.
According to the ministry, the weather phenomenon is expected to bring reduced rainfall and hotter, drier conditions than usual, with potential implications for agriculture, reservoir water levels, public health and the risk of open burning and haze.
The committee agreed that all relevant departments and agencies should convene coordination meetings to ensure effective early action, while strengthening preventive and monitoring measures to curb open burning, haze and recurring fire incidents.
“Preparedness involving peatland infrastructure, machinery and human resources must also be ensured so that fires can be extinguished quickly and localised haze incidents prevented,” NRES said in a statement.
The ministry said the Fire and Rescue Department would also prepare its logistics and manpower resources to address the impact of the Southwest Monsoon.
In addition, the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), the Malaysian Meteorological Department and the Royal Malaysian Air Force have been placed on standby to carry out cloud seeding operations in affected areas, subject to suitable atmospheric conditions.
NRES also reminded all parties not to carry out open burning or allow land and premises to be encroached upon in a manner that could lead to such activities.
“Strict action will be taken against irresponsible parties, including landowners, found to have caused open burning,” it said.
Under Section 29A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, offenders may face a fine of up to RM1 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both, while compounds of up to RM500,000 may also be imposed for each offence.
Separately, NRES said its minister, Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, will lead the Malaysian delegation to the 27th Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) and Technical Working Group (TWG) meetings on transboundary haze pollution in Bali, Indonesia, on July 8 and 9.
“All MSC member countries will present their strategies and initiatives to prevent forest and land fires. Malaysia will also table proposals to enhance the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution during the meetings,” it said.
