CLOUD seeding operations will be conducted in Selangor again and a few other areas tomorrow, says Deputy Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC) Minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis.
“We wanted to start the operation today but the weather condition did not permit us to do so. But we will do it tomorrow, with a briefing first at 8.30am and then the cloud seeding operation between 11am and noon tomorrow,” Isnaraissah told reporters in Penang today.
“The condition in Penang today is good as most of the API (Air Pollutant Index) readings show. We did cloud seeding in Selangor on Thursday (Sept 12) and had also conducted cloud seeding in Sarawak, the worst affected state, before.”
She was in Penang to flag off the ‘Kimia Heritage Run 100 Years’ together with Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Malaysian Chemistry Department director Mohamed Zaini Abdul Rahman at the Esplanade.
The cloud seeding procedure will be conducted with the help of Royal Malaysia Air Force (TUDM), Malaysian Meteorological Department and National Disaster Management Agency.
Isnaraissah said MESTECC Minister Yeo Bee Yin and her had met Indonesian Embassy officials, Minister Counsellor Agus Badrul Jamal and Information, Social and Cultural Affairs Counsellor Agung Cahaya Sumirat on Sept 10 to raise Malaysia’s concern over the haze situation.
“Now, it’s not to blame Malaysia or Indonesia. Cloud seeding is just a temporary measure but more importantly is to address the source of the haze.
“We’ve offered to help Indonesia tackle the forest fires but they have not got back to us. We believe all our friends in Asean can fight the haze together,” said Isnaraissah.
She said based on data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) located in Singapore, most of the hotspots were in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
The API readings could be obtained from Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia or visit www.apims.doe.gov.my.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Abdul Rashid
Video by Alvie Cheng