Even with a few rounds of showers yesterday (14 September) in Klang Valley, the air pollutant index (API) still shot up to 140 this afternoon. We can still smell the burnt particles, and many of us succumbed to the horrible weather and fell ill.
In order to combat the smoke particles, the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC) scheduled cloud seeding operations in Selangor, as well as certain areas in West Malaysia.
According to Sin Chew Daily, the unsuitable weather these few days caused a delay to the cloud seeding plans and it will be postponed to Monday (16 September) at 11 am.
YB Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, the deputy minister of the department said that many factors were to be considered in order to carry out the operation, including the weather and the condition of the clouds.
The Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC) has also run cloud seeding in Miri, Sarawak on 12 September, and the rain has improved the weather at that area.
YB Isnaraissah added that this is definitely not the time for pointing fingers, and this huge project requires effort from the other SEA countries as well.
“Cloud seeding will only improve the situation temporarily, and we should solve the root problems instead.”
Hoping to provide an update for the public, she mentioned that the ministry has raised our concerns with the Indonesian government and that they’ve also offered Indonesia to work together to distinguish the fire. However, Indonesia hasn’t responded to MESTECC, yet.
YB Isnaraissah assured everyone that they will inform the public on their Facebook page once they acquired the latest updates.
Let us all pray hard for the weather to be suitable for the cloud seeding operations tomorrow.
In the meantime, stay hydrated and indoors as much as you can.
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