Drink More Water Advice As El Nino Phenomenon Worsens

SEGAMAT, April 22 (Bernama) -- It is said that English speakers love to talk about the weather as a way of breaking the ice. Over the past few months in Malaysia, the topic of conversation in most instances has been nothing but the weather. The El Nino phenomenon has brought on hot and dry weather that has had adverse effects on, for example, air quality, health, water supply, outdoor activities and fishing. Indications are that the high temperature, as high as 37 degrees Celsius in some places, and drought may prolong until June, upsetting the normal flow of life. Nevertheless, people have to adjust to the situation. As Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam advised today, one must drink plenty of water even when one does not feel thirsty. Talking to reporters after presenting a RM100,000 cheque to the St Philip Catholic Church in Segamat, he said the weather is getting hotter as the sun gets closer to being directly above the equator. The Segamat MP also advised the people to reduce outdoor activities, particularly during the day. He said the people must also use water sparingly as a study showed that Malaysians use more water compared to people in Singapore and Thailand. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau warned that the country could face a water crisis due to the current weather. Speaking to reporters after closing an education innovation programme in Tuaran, Sabah, he said that while the El Nino phenomenon was expected to end in June, the South-West Monsoon period from May to September was usually dry. The long drought would deplete water in the country's dams to a critical level, he said, adding that this was already happening at the dams in Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Johor and Sabah. Madius said cloud-seeding was being undertaken with the collaboration of the relevant agencies to force rain in the area of the dams. "We will do this daily so long as there are no technical hitches," he said. In seeking alternatives, the people have not given up on asking for divine help for some relief from the extraordinary weather. About 2,000 Muslims gathered at the hockey field in Kota Baharu today to pray for rain. The special prayers were led by Kelantan deputy mufti Datuk Nik Abdul Kadir Nik Mohamad. Also present was Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah. The hot weather has had an adverse effect also on animals. Snakes, for example, in their attempt to seek cooler places have entered houses and other buildings. Personnel from the Department of Civil Defence have had their hands full going after the reptiles, recording 11,994 cases between January and March this year. The number was 603 cases higher than in the corresponding period last year, said department director-general Datuk Ogu Salim Omar in Kuantan after closing the third series of the Malaysian Polytechnic Civil Defence Annual Camp for 2016 at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Pahang Polytechnic. Sadly, two schoolgirls were bitten by snakes at their schools last week. Nuriey Nadhirah Roslan, seven, a Year One pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan Dato' Hashim, Pengkalan Chepa, in Kelantan died during treatment at a clinic after she collapsed in class. She was bitten by a snake during recess while playing in a garden near her classroom. The other schoolgirl was bitten at her school in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. The Year Two pupil was attacked during physical education at the school field, and was reported to be in stable condition at the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban. -- BERNAMA

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