PUTRAJAYA: Federal and state agencies are stepping up preparedness measures to mitigate the impact of a strong El Niño phenomenon expected to persist until early next year.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry said preparedness strategies and response measures were presented by relevant agencies at the first National Haze and Dry Weather Steering Committee meeting for 2026 held here today.
It said the weather phenomenon was expected to bring reduced rainfall and hotter, drier conditions, with possible impacts on agriculture, reservoir levels, public health, and an increased risk of open burning and haze.
The committee agreed that all relevant departments and agencies should hold coordination meetings to ensure early and effective action, while strengthening preventive and monitoring efforts to curb open burning, haze and recurring fire incidents.
"Preparedness involving peatland infrastructure, machinery and manpower must also be ensured so that fires can be extinguished quickly and localised haze incidents prevented," the ministry said in a statement.
It also said the Fire and Rescue Department would also strengthen logistics and manpower readiness for the Southwest Monsoon period.
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.
The ministry also reminded all parties not to carry out open burning or allow land and premises to be managed in a way 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.
Separately, the ministry said its minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup would lead the Malaysian delegation to the 27th Ministerial Steering Committee and Technical Working Group meetings on transboundary haze pollution in Bali, Indonesia, on July 8 and 9.
It said Asean member countries would present strategies to prevent forest and land fires, while Malaysia will table proposals to strengthen implementation of the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. - NST
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