SHAH ALAM, April 22 — Selangor has outlined various early and proactive measures to address El Nino, which is expected to increase the risk of forest fires due to hot, dry weather.
State executive councillor for public health and the environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said they have established the Smart Selangor Operation Centre (SSOC) and District Disaster Operation Centres (DDOC), operated by the Selangor State Disaster Management Unit and all District and Land Offices.
“The Disaster Management Unit, through SSOC, monitors weather indicators and coordinates communication with DDOC and the Central Disaster Operation Control Centre in managing disaster incidents.
“The state government is also implementing various early intervention measures to ensure that the risk of forest and peatland fires can be minimised during prolonged hot and dry conditions,” she said.
Jamaliah was responding to Sijangkang state assemblyman Dato' Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi's oral question on the state government’s preparedness and actions to prevent forest fires during El Nino, at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
The Bandar Utama state assemblyman added that a peat fire extinguishing tool, ‘Peat Fire X’, has also been placed at the Klang Royal City Council to assist in open fire suppression operations.
Similarly, the Selangor Environment Department and the local authorities will carry out monitoring and risk assessments at illegal dumping sites and peatland areas as a preventive measure.
Should fires occur in forest reserves or peatland areas, the Selangor Disaster Management Unit will fund the activation and pumping of underground tube wells under the supervision of the Minerals and Geoscience Department to inundate affected areas.
“The Selangor Forestry Department is also implementing the Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems in Malaysia project, aimed at managing peatlands in a sustainable and integrated manner.
“Fire prevention operations for peatland areas are also supported by the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department to ensure fires do not spread and large-scale incidents are avoided,” she said.
A strong El Nino phenomenon is expected to affect the world, including Malaysia, around the middle of this year, with a probability exceeding 70 per cent and rising to between 80 and 90 per cent by the end of 2026.
Malaysian Academy of Sciences fellow Prof Fredolin Tajudin Tangang said that based on forecasts by the United States Climate Prediction Centre, the phenomenon is expected to begin around July to August.
It is likely to intensify towards the end of the year and early 2027 before gradually weakening between March and April, and ending around May next year.
