Dry, hazy weather forecast to end in October

The dry and hazy weather engulfing the country is forecast to end with the start of the monsoon season next month, says Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

"According to a Malaysian Meteorological Department report, the country is still in the southwest monsoon phase and it is expected to end by the middle of this month (September)," he said in a statement here today.

However, he said, the moderate El Nino phenomenon currently prevailing was expected to continue until early 2016.

El Nino is a warming of the sea surface temperatures which occurs within the period of six months in a row every two to four years in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

It can cause a chain of climate changes worldwide, and the result is heavy rainfall in some regions while other areas have prolonged drought.

Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi said 3,218 cases of open burning were detected nationwide as of Sept 3, involving forest areas (574), agricultural areas (1,154), industrial areas (19), construction areas (62), dumpsites (91), bushes (622) and other small incidents of open burning (696).

"All parties are advised to refrain from open burning or let their land or premises to be utilised for open burning, knowingly or unknowingly," he said.