Hot weather, haze hit country simultaneously
SHAH ALAM - Dry spell and haze that hit the country simultaneously have forced various parties including government agencies to take precautionary measures to be prepared in facing any possibilities.
The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has instructed all its officers at its departments and agencies to monitor the hot weather from time to time as it could affect the agricultural sector
Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said so far, the agricultural supply situation was currently under control and that the ministry will ensure that daily needs were sufficient.
"We will monitor the situation from time to time. It is being monitored daily and our officers in the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama), Farmers' Organisation Authority (LPP) and the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) are monitoring it all the time to ensure supplies are available and sufficient," he said.
Mohamad said the ministry was also working on an emergency plan if shortage of food occurred due to the current weather situation.
"We have a plan in the case of an emergency, if there is a need to import (agricultural goods) if something happens. We have a place (to import from) if we need it immediately," he told Bernama.
Yesterday, Mohamad launched the Madani Agro Sales at Kampung Johan Setia, Klang.
On Saturday, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said Malaysia was expected to experience prolonged hot weather until August following the monsoon transition.
He said the hot weather involved all states but it was prominent in the northern and east coast states.
"Areas in the northern states are worse and it is noticable in areas bordering Thailand with a temperature of over 37 degrees Celsius," he said in a press conference in Kota Bharu.
He said the prolonged hot weather without rain will cause several areas to be affected by haze.
Meanwhile, Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) in Kuching will hold a meeting soon following the hot weather and dry spell.
Its chairman Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the meeting will focus on discussions and efforts to overcome the haze issue.
"The monsoon season is over and we have been experiencing a dry spell for the past week.
"So, we want to warn all other Disaster Management Division Committees to thoroughly observe all potential hot spots in their areas.
"They must be prepared to deal with fire incidents and other related issues," he said in a statement, yesterday.
He said he hoped that the people as well as farmers would not carry out open burning activities.
"Always put out the fires in the farms before returning home," he added.
