THE rising temperature now is caused by reduced air humidity and rainfall in the region caused by tropical storm Aere in northern Philippines that blew hot air to the country, said Malaysian Meteorological Department (Met) weather forecasting director Saw Bun Liong.
Saw told Bernama that the current hot spell in the peninsula was only temporary and likely to ease next week.
He said the hot spell was, however, normal in May and the temperatures recorded were lower than during the same period in 1998.
The country has beem experiencing warm weather since May 6. The highest temperature recorded throughout the country since May 6 is 36.2°C.
Cooling off: Children playing at the pool at Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers due to the hot weather recently. — By AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star.
The department will continue to monitor the situation continuously round the clock and will alert the National Security Council if any action needs to be taken.
Saw advised the public to avoid open burning, reduce outdoor activities and drink a lot of water.
According to information posted on the department’s website, Malaysia is now experiencing inter-monsoon season which will last until the end of the month..
During this period the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah will occasionally experience thunderstorms and heavy rain in the afternoon and fair weather over the eastern states of the peninsula.
Subsequently, the South-West Monsoon is expected from June to September. The South-West Mon-soon is comparatively drier throughout the country and this is attributed to relatively stable atmospheric condition due to less intense convective development.
It was also stated that the current La Nina condition is expected to continue weakening in the coming months and the weather will be back to normal by June.
The hot spell has resulted in more people staying indoors and drinking more water and switching on the air-conditioners.
Electrical product retailers like Courts and Harvey Norman confirmed that they had recorded an increase in sale of air-conditioners in recent weeks.
Consumers are spoilt for choice as the retailers are running promotions by air-conditioner brands like Panasonic, York, Mitsubishi and LG.
A spokesman from the Seri Andalas Fire and Rescue Department in Klang said they had received instructions to monitor the Kampung Johan Setia area, which is prone to peat fires during a drought and farmers conducting open burning of jungle waste.
“We have yet to receive any complaints about fires in the area.
“But the department has recorded fewer forest fires this year compared with previous years because we have taken early preventive measures and carry out regular monitoring,” he said.
At press time, Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd could not be contacted for comments on the water level at the dams in Sungai Langat, Klang Gates and Tasik Subang.
Drinks to cost the same despite sugar price increase, say restaurant operators
GEORGE TOWN: Muslim restaurants will not be increasing the prices of their drinks although sugar now costs an extra 20 sen per kilo.
Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Noorul Hassan Saul Hameed said its 3,700 members would not increase the prices of drinks.
“We can easily absorb the cost,” he said yesterday.
He said restaurant operators had already reduced the amount of sugar in drinks following the Government's call for the public to consume less sugar.
“Our customers are also asking for less sugar in their drinks,” he added.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Zain Mohd Dom had announced that the price of coarse and fine sugar would be increased by 20 sen to RM2.30 per kilo.
Coffeeshops in Sibu have also pledged to maintain the prices of their drinks for the time being.
However, Sibu Coffeeshop and Restaurant Owners Association chairman Tong Ing Kok said it would have to consider any appeal from members for a price increase.
“The prices of other ingredients for drinks such as condensed milk, evaporated milk and coffee powder have also increased,” he added.
Tong said the per-carton price of condensed milk had increased from RM124.40 to about RM148 and evaporated milk from RM105.80 to about RM127.
He added that the price of coffee powder had increased from RM17 to RM22 per kilo.
“With or without a price increase, I strongly urge our members to maintain standards and not reduce the quality of their drinks, which can result in them losing customers,” he said, advising members to comply with the association's price list on drinks.
Malaysian Chinese Food Consumers Association vice-chairman Chia Yuk Koay said he had not received any feedback from his members on the sugar price increase.
(浮罗交怡10日讯)深受泰王普密蓬阿杜德器重的泰国第3副僧王CHAO PRA KUN SOMDET PAK MAHA LAT CHA MANG KALA CHA( CHOW KANNAK JAI HOON NUA)日前受泰王之命代表泰国九位德高望重的僧王,莅临泰国圣僧龍甫坤在本岛发起的泰佛寺~浮罗交怡幸运泰佛寺主持一场南传佛教大法会,并为浮罗交怡幸运泰佛寺大雄宝殿及骨灰塔主持奠基大礼。
基于泰国第3副僧王CHAO PRA KUN SOMDET PAK MAHA LAT CHA MANG KALA CHA( CHOW KANNAK JAI HOON NUA)是受泰王普密蓬阿杜德之命代表泰国九位僧王莅临浮罗交怡幸运泰佛寺主持南传佛教弘法大会及为该佛寺大雄宝殿及骨灰塔主持奠基大礼,因此,这名第3 副僧王莅临浮罗交怡是属于高层次的国事访问,除了获得警方及政府高官的密切关注之外,也获得浮罗交怡幸运泰佛寺理事会的高度迎接。
奉泰王之命 进行国事访问
据浮罗交怡幸运泰佛寺秘书拿督陈耀荣局绅表示,泰国第3副僧王CHAO PRA KUN SOMDET PAK MAHA LAT CHA MANG KALA CHA( CHOW KANNAK JAI HOON NUA)是奉泰王之命普密蓬阿杜德于上周六下午4时15分抵达进行一天的国事访问,第3副僧王抵步后就立刻由地方政府官员及警方人员护送之下,到浮罗交怡玛苏莉城向玛苏莉公主进行一项参拜仪式及在该城进行了约1小时半的参观活动。
KUALA LUMPUR: One day after the US announced that the death of its most wanted man, several governments around the world tightened security against possible retaliation from terror networks linked to Al Qaeda. Malaysia has also heightened security in key areas.
Speaking after meeting the visiting Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna, Malaysia's Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said a special counter terrorism taskforce is working closely with regional and international intelligence agencies to stay on top of the situation.
Mr Hishamuddin said: "Right now we have not seen any movement that will concern us...I can give assurance as of today there's no concern. Malaysia was never a target at the moment. I believe they have no plan making Malaysia a target."
Malaysia recently set up a joint working committee with India to combat terrorism, arms smuggling, as well as human and drug trafficking. It is also actively sharing information with the US, UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia and China on cross border terror links.
The minister denied that Malaysia is seen as a breeding ground for regional terror networks.
He said: "It was never been seen as breeding ground. There's no room for them to breed, to train terrorism. But the world is porous now. Anywhere they exist, they move, they are mobile, they do end up on our shores and some stayed on."
Still the Malaysian authorities are not taking chances. The police have stepped up security measures at strategic locations in and around the capital, in particular the embassy enclave in downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia is also putting in place a better mechanism to screen foreigners at entry checkpoints. This after reports that terror suspects were infiltrating Malaysian schools and institutions of higher learning to recruit students.