KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry will coordinate an engagement session to provide detailed briefings on El Nino to all state governments to ensure that early preparations can be implemented.
Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the matter was decided by the National Economic Action Council following the phenomenon, which is expected to continue until at least mid-2027.
"The Malaysian Meteorological Department has also activated early preparedness measures, including 24-hour weather monitoring, weather warning announcements, the preparation of a fire hazard rating system, as well as readiness to implement Cloud Seeding Operations if the situation is urgent," he said during the Global Supply Crisis Briefing today.
Akmal added that El Nino has the potential to bring warmer weather and a significant reduction in rainfall, including up to 40 to 60 per cent in several states.
The situation could pose risks such as affecting water supplies, haze, putting pressure on public health, affecting food crops and commodities, increasing energy demand, and affecting the overall macro economy.
Malaysia's experience with such weather in 2015 and 2016, with high temperatures exceeding 37°C, led to the closure of 250 schools in the northern peninsula, and the palm oil industry recorded a decline in production of around 16 to 18 per cent.
Meanwhile, he said the total labour force increased to 17.33 million people while the working population increased to 16.82 million people in April, with the labour force participation rate remaining strong at 70.9 per cent.
"The unemployment rate recorded 3.0 per cent involving 511.8 thousand people. Although there was a slight increase compared to the previous month, the majority of the unemployed, which is 79.5 per cent, are still actively looking for jobs," Akmal said.
Based on data on benefit applications under the Social Security Organisation's Employment Insurance System, 7,766 workers lost their jobs in May, compared to 7,162 workers in April.
He also noted a positive development in job placement, with MYFutureJobs data showing placements increased by 19.0 per cent, from 12,119 in April 2026 to 14,366 in May 2026, including job seekers through the MYFutureJobs portal and those receiving EIS benefits.
The government will continue to monitor job losses and strengthen job-matching efforts so that affected workers can return to work more quickly and household incomes can be protected.
Regarding the health sector, Akmal reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening buffer stocks, expanding supply sources, and expediting access to critical medicines when needed.
Among the actions that had been taken included the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Health Ministry (MOH) through the Medical Devices Authority with the Japanese Health, Labour, and Welfare Ministry on Monday (June 8), in conjunction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to the country.
Based on the MOH's monitoring until May 8, he said 72 per cent of medicine items were at low risk, while 81.7 per cent of medical devices were at low risk.
Concerning the one-off provision of an advance of Ploughing Incentive to Farmers of RM200 per hectare to farmers in the Peninsula who started padi planting in Season 1, 2026, Akmal said that to date, 90 per cent or almost 180,000 farmers have received payment.
