Air force on standby for cloud seeding exercise

Air force on standby for cloud seeding exercise

Air force on standby for cloud seeding exercise

Posted: 22 Feb 2014 08:02 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: THE cloud seeding  plan to induce rainfall is set to go once the right atmospheric condition presents itself, said National Security Council (NSC) secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abd Wahab.

He said the Royal Malaysian Air Force was on standby to begin the operation.

He dismissed claims that the NSC was waiting for a crisis to occur before embarking on the exercise.

"It is not true that the NSC is waiting for a full-blown emergency before going ahead with the cloud seeding."

The Meteorological Department had earlier said that it was not suitable to carry out cloud seeding at the moment because of stable wind conditions. The best conditions for it are light and variable winds at a minimum altitude of 5,000km

Thajudeen said the authorities were focusing on catchment areas for the exercise.

"The cost for this exercise would be shared by the agencies involved, including the Meteorological Department, the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) and others."

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Bhd (Syabas) said the demand for water brought on by the dry spell was among the reasons for the shortage of supply to several parts of the capital and Petaling.

Its communications and public affairs department assistant general manager Priscilla Alfred said more consumers could be affected if the situation persisted.

"We have mobilised static tanks and water tankers to affected areas. However, the supply is limited and we may not be able to fulfil everyone's needs.

"We urge the public who are taking water from the tankers to be prudent and to use the supply wisely."

She said Syabas' role was to distribute treated water, which is bought from the treatment plant and not directly from the dams.

"The dams and rivers come under Luas. The treatment plant and balancing reservoir come under Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd and Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd while the pump house, service reservoir and pipes come under Syabas.

"Under the concessionaire's agreement, the state government is responsible for making sure there is enough water supply. Syabas is only the distributor."

Checks by the New Sunday Times revealed that while supply had resumed in some areas in Kuala Langat and Hulu Langat, many were still affected by the shortage.

Elfie Masrom, 25, who lives with his family of five in Kampung Bukit Changgang, Hulu Langat, said his area had been affected for almost two weeks.

His family waits in front of their house every day for the water tankers to come after dawn.

"We bought a water storage tank for RM400 just to store enough water for the family," he said, adding they were sharing the storage tank with relatives who live next door.

Muhammad Ikhwan Ridzwan, 24, said there was still no water supply in Cheras Perdana.

"It has been a week now and I have not seen any water tankers around my area."

Executive Shaun Dhwana from Sungai Long in Kajang said his family opted to stay at a relative's house.

"We could not cope with the situation so I suggested to my mum that we stay at my aunt's house in Cheras," he said, adding it had been a week since their water supply was disrupted.

Ticketing assistant Muhammad Shahir Noor Azman, 24, said water supply in Bandar Tun Hussein Onn had resumed but the pressure was still low.

In Seremban, Bernama reported that the National Water Services Commission (Span) had confirmed there was no water crisis in Negri Sembilan.

Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan Sdn Bhd (Sains) corporate services division head Norzita Ismail said the water supply situation in the state was under control.

"This was stated personally by Span chief executive officer Datuk Teo Yen Hua after a working visit to the Sains headquarters to check on the water supply in Negri Sembilan."

She said the hour-long discussion between Sains and Span officers was followed up by visits to the Sungai Terip Dam, Ngoi-Ngoi water treatment plant, Triang Dam and the water intake at Petasih.

The state government opened a disaster operations room last Sunday following the drying up of the source of raw water in Sungai Batang Benar, Pantai, which disrupted supply to Seremban Barat, particularly Taman Nusari Bayu, Taman Nusari Aman, Taman Sendayan Indah, Taman Cederawasih, Mambau, Taman Kelab Tuanku and Bukit Sendayan.

Supply to the area was restored after Sains activated its contingency plan by sending tanker lorries and stationing static water tanks in the affected housing estates and channelling water from the Kuala Sawah treatment plant.

Norzita said consumers who needed help could contact Sains' toll free line, 1-800-88-6982.

In Kuantan, Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad (Paip) offered to send its tanker lorries to help distribute water in affected states.

Paip public relations officer Jaafar Abdullah said the corporation, which handles water treatment and distribution in Pahang, could dispatch at least five water tanker lorries to Selangor and Negri Sembilan

"We can help distribute water from the source to affected residents, especially those in critical areas. We can also send treated water to ensure consumers are not exposed to water-borne diseases."

He said Paip tanker lorries could also help provide clean water to important premises, such as hospitals and clinics.

"There are a lot of affected areas and I believe that they need more tanker lorries to distribute water. We are willing to help if there is a request from the state governments involved."

Jaafar said Pahang was not facing any water shortages. Additional reporting by Hamzah Jamaludin

Residents of Taman Impian Ehsan, Balakong, Selangor retrieving water from a pipe next to a sign denoting how many days the area has gone without water supply. Pic by Saddam Yusoff

After 'conquering' peninsula, Wan Hashim eyes England

Posted: 22 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

23 February 2014| last updated at 12:21AM

The 68-year-old retired private sector worker, who started the journey on Jan 26, reached Kota Baru from Rantau Panjang at 1pm yesterday. He entered Kelantan via the Malaysia-Thailand border at Sungai Golok at 8am.

Wan Hashim said he was glad that he ended his journey after cycling 2,250km through Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor, Singapore, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak and back to Kelantan.

"I am happy that I have reached home safely. Though I am tired, I am overwhelmed by the support given by the people, especially my family members, who have been waiting for my return," he said at a thanksgiving feast thrown by his family at Telipot here yesterday.

The father-of-six with 18 grandchildren said he arrived in Sungai Golok town after taking a train from Hat Yai on Friday.

"My journey ended in Perak on Thursday evening. From Perak, I went to Hat Yai, took a train to Sungai Golok. I stayed at a relative's home for the night and crossed over to Kelantan this morning. I was surprised to see about 100 people at the checkpoint to welcome me."

Asked about his future plans, Wan Hashim said: "The support given by the public and the police has encouraged me to hold similar missions, and if possible, I would like to cycle overseas."

Wan Hashim said he had chosen England for his next journey, likely to be early next year.

"I have a daughter living there and my family plans to visit next year.

"I think this would be my chance to cycle there while we are on holiday."

Wan Hashim Wan Mahmood hugging his mother Hasmah Ahmad (second from right) and wife Faridah Daud (second from left) when he arrived in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, yesterday. Pic by Syamsi Suhaimi

'Malaysia's view of TPPA puts others to shame'

Posted: 22 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

23 February 2014| last updated at 12:44AM

KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIA has put "so-called advanced democracies" to shame with its relatively critical perception  of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), says Auckland University law professor Jane Kelsey, a long-term critic of the proposed TPPA.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said on Friday that the draft of the TPPA would be released to the public so that it could be scrutinised and debated before any final agreement is signed.

Describing the move as unprecedented for Malaysia, Kelsey said Mustapa's call for transparency was identical to open letters from legislators of seven countries, including New Zealand, which were released last week.

"By contrast, New Zealand's Trade Minister Tim Groser, a strong TPPA proponent, peremptorily dismissed a similar call from parliamentarians, including the Greens, New Zealand First, Maori and Mana parties. The government also prevented Labour from presenting a similar motion in the House," she said.

Malaysia's list of concerns, she said, included issues on intellectual property, tobacco policy, investor-state dispute settlement, state-owned enterprises and the government's procurement preference for Bumiputeras.

She said these issues would be looked into during the ministerial meeting in Singapore over the next few days. Only then would the focus turn to crucial questions about market access to agriculture, automobile and textile industries.

Kelsey speculated that the unresolved issues would most likely become bargaining chips in the final trade-offs rather than stumbling blocks to a final deal, unless it creates so much domestic backlash that the Malaysian government is forced not to sign the trade pact.

"Malaysia seems to be foreshadowing that such an outcome is possible if they cannot protect important social and economic development policies.

"After all, they walked away from a Malaysia-United States Free Trade Agreement in 2009. Would New Zealand be prepared to listen to its people and do the same?" Bernama

Rubber tappers' income falls short

Posted: 22 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

23 February 2014| last updated at 12:39AM

Masood Mat Jali, 49, said he used to earn between RM40 and RM50 a day, but only took home between RM18 and RM25 a day since the change in the weather.

"When the weather is too hot, the rubber trees don't produce much sap, leaving us with less income. It's worse as the price of rubber has dropped.

"Even if we want to carry out farming to supplement our income, it is impossible because the soil is too dry," he said yesterday.

Yusnaidi Harun, 45, from Kampung Guntong Kerdau, Temerloh, said he had to be prudent in his spending by only buying necessities.

"The rubber trees are dry. Their leaves have turned red and are falling. The trees also produce less milk and can be tapped on alternate days only.

"If the trees are tapped daily, they will die faster."

Mohamed Jali, 43, a father-of-10 from Kampung Tanah Nyior, Jerantut, said he now fished to earn extra income.

"Eight of my children are still schooling and I need between RM20 and RM35 for their daily expenses. I am the sole breadwinner and if I have to rely on rubber tapping alone during this dry season, there will be times when we have to go without food."

However, he said he was grateful to the Barisan Nasional government for providing the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M), which helped to lessen their burden.

In Temerloh, Kuala Krau Member of Parliament Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said said a RM52 million project to upgrade water supply for residents in Jengka Felda and nearby areas, which started last year, would be completed this year.

He said 70 per cent of the project, involving the changing of 20-year-old pipes, was completed. Bernama

Najib to address diplomats at conference

Posted: 22 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

23 February 2014| last updated at 12:44AM

The conference, with the theme "Transforming Malaysia's Diplomacy Towards 2020", will start today and end on March 1 at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR).

Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin yesterday said the conference was aimed at ensuring Malaysian foreign policy was in line with new developments, as well as highlighting issues and strategic interests to keep foreign missions abreast of the nation's developments.

Hamzah said HOMC would also discuss domestic policies and ways to achieve better diplomatic ties.

Najib is also expected to shed light on Malaysia's constraints and priorities, especially concerning Asean affairs and other strategic issues. He will also participate in a dialogue session after the speech.

Hamzah said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was scheduled to deliver a speech entitled "Engaging and Mobilising Malaysian Diaspora to Strengthen the Nation" at the conference on Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman will open the conference tomorrow.

Other speakers slated to deliver speeches throughout the week include minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.

Sand-mining firm ordered to stop work immediately

Posted: 22 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

23 February 2014| last updated at 12:49AM

District officer Abdul Rahim Nin also ordered the company to remove all equipment from the area.

He said sand mining there had resulted in the river being deepened and posed a danger to residents.

"The district Drainage and Irrigation Department has told the company to repair the riverbank, which had collapsed," he said at the scene of the incident yesterday.

According to Rahim, who is also the District Security Committee chairman, 18 sand mining licences had been issued along Sungai Muar in the Segamat district, with 10 of them active, three pending extensions and five inactive.

Meanwhile, the Johor Social Welfare Department has sent its counsellors to provide emotional support to the families of the drowned teenagers.

"We have sent our counsellors to help them deal with this tragic incident," state Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Asiah Md Arif said at the scene here yesterday.

State Education deputy director Md Hamsidin Zaini said it would assist the families of the deceased boys, who were all from Taman Mewah here, to make their Takaful group insurance claims.

"The Johor Education Department has also asked school authorities to have a meeting with the Parent-Teacher Association to help the families." Bernama