Sizzling weather: A landscaper drinks from a water bottle under the hot sun in Sandakan, Sabah. — Bernama
SEREMBAN: Jempol, one of the areas covered by a Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) Level 1 heatwave alert, has hardly seen any rain in the past few months.
Jeram Padang assemblyman Datuk L. Manickam said this was probably the hottest and driest period he has ever experienced in three decades.
“I have been here a long time and never been through such extreme weather.
“It has been unbearably hot in the past few weeks and we find it difficult to sleep at night. This is not normal,” he added.
Manickam, a former Negri Sembilan state executive councillor, said he had advised residents in his constituency to stay indoors and drink more water.
Jeram Padang is one of the state seats under the Jempol parliamentary constituency.
On Sunday, MetMalaysia announced that several areas in Peninsular Malaysia were expected to experience a Level 1 heatwave for at least three consecutive days, with a maximum temperature of between 35°C and 37°C.
Apart from Jempol, the affected areas are Jeli, Kuala Krai, Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah in Kelantan; Rompin in Pahang; Kuala Terengganu; as well as Beaufort and Nabawan in Sabah.
Housewife Salmah Arshad, 49, said it only rained twice or three times this month.
“Luckily, heavy rain came on Monday, otherwise this place would be bone dry,” she added.
She, however, was pleased the water supply was not disrupted.
“I am really grateful that we have been receiving uninterrupted water supply despite the weather.
“We are also praying for more rainfall soon so that the weather becomes cooler,” she said in a phone interview, and happily informed The Star that just then, it was starting to drizzle.
Wong Kah Keong, 47, a journalist of a vernacular newspaper based in Bahau, said there was similar weather, but a bit milder, in the town about four years ago.
“I have been based here for 16 years now. This time around, it has been really hot.
“We have hardly had any rain in the past few months and everywhere I go, the only thing the people are talking about is the prolonged dry weather,” he said.
Wong said it rained heavily on Monday, followed by cloudy weather with intermittent rain yesterday.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed for more rain. It has been dry for too long,” he said.
When contacted, a spokesman from the Bandar Seri Jempol Fire and Rescue Department said there have been no reports of fires due to the dry spell.
