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The Star
05-08-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Water levels at Bukit Merah Dam rise slightly after cloud seeding
IPOH: The recent cloud seeding operation conducted over Bukit Merah Dam has led to a slight improvement in water levels, but irrigation supply to the Kerian Irrigation Scheme remains suspended due to ongoing drought conditions. Perak water committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the operation was carried out on Aug 4 following prolonged dry weather brought on by the Southwest Monsoon, which has severely affected catchment areas in Bagan Serai. 'Bukit Merah Dam had reached its irrigation supply cut-off level of 6.096m (20feet) on July 22 due to the lack of rainfall. 'According to standard operating procedures, irrigation supply was halted to prioritise raw water needs,' he said in a statement Tuesday (Aug 5). Mohammad Nizar said the cloud seeding exercise was led by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), with support from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), and other related agencies. He said Deputy Prime Minister and National Disaster Committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was present to observe the operation via an aerial monitoring flight over the dam. 'According to the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), the operation brought effective rainfall to several catchment areas between 12pm and 2pm, with increased water inflow recorded at the Pondok Tanjung Station from 3pm onwards. 'As of 8am on Aug 5, the water level at the dam rose from 6.035m to 6.096m. Its storage capacity also increased from 12.2% to 13.31%,' he said. He added that despite the improvement, the dam's status remains at the irrigation cut-off level. 'DID said the increased storage would help extend domestic water supply, but irrigation to padi fields under the Kerian scheme could not yet be resumed. 'The department will continue to closely monitor the situation and coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure water supply remains at a safe and sustainable level,' he added.
Malay Mail
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
RM31m flood mitigation plan launched for Miri River Basin, early warning system in pipeline, says MP
MIRI, Aug 1 — Several key flood mitigation projects are currently being carried out in the Miri parliamentary constituency to address recurring flood issues, said Miri MP Chiew Choon Man. Chiew, in a statement yesterday, said the initiatives were part of the government's broader efforts following major floods in Sarawak earlier this year. 'In the current parliamentary sitting, I submitted a question to the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) regarding flood mitigation plans for Miri and follow-up actions after the recent floods,' he said. He said in its reply, the ministry informed that the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) is implementing several key initiatives. Among them is the Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) for the Miri River Basin, currently underway with an allocation of RM31 million. The project is scheduled for completion in January 2026. In addition, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Programme (PRAB) is being rolled out in phases across Sarawak. 'PRAB Phase 2, which covers two major river basins in the state, is expected to be completed by 2028, while Phase 3 – involving 19 major river basins including Miri – is set to begin in March 2026,' he said. While welcoming the ministry's comprehensive plans, Chiew cautioned that successful outcomes would depend on timely execution, adequate funding, and close coordination between federal, state, and local authorities. 'I will continue to engage with the relevant agencies to monitor progress and ensure these projects deliver tangible benefits to the people of Miri,' he said. Chiew also emphasised the need for close stakeholder cooperation to make Miri a safer, more resilient, and liveable city. — The Borneo Post
South Wales Guardian
31-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Argos, B&M, Poundland and Tesco air fryer urgent recall
Air fryers sold at Argos, B&M Bargains, DID, Poundland, and Tesco are being urgently recalled due to a frisk of overheating and fires (Image: Getty Images) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Tower Air Fryers has issued an urgent recall as popular models sold at Argos, B&M Bargains, DID, Poundland, Robert Dyas, Tesco, and the Tower Housewares website could be a potential 'fire hazard'. The recall notice says: "The product presents a risk of fire as it may overheat and ignite during use." The product has been recalled, and customers advised to check if their models are on the list: T17023 Tower 2.2Ltr Manual Air Fryer T17061BLK Tower 4Ltr Manual Air Fryer T17067 Tower 4Ltr Digital Air Fryer T17087 Tower 2Ltr Compact Manual Air Fryer T17129L Tower Vortx 8L Air Fryer (Lidl) T17129 Tower Vortx 8L Air Fryer (Argos) Affected products were manufactured between January 2022 and April 2023. Affected products have been sold by retailers including: Argos B&M Bargains DID Poundland Robert Dyas Tesco the Tower Housewares website The product presents a risk of fire as it can overheat and ignite during use. The product does not meet the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. What do I need to do if I have one of the recalled air fryers? The product has been recalled from end users. Owners of affected products should stop using the product immediately and unplug it. For further information, including checking if your product is affected and registering your product for a refund or replacement, please access the Tower Housewares webpage: Recommended reads: What is a product recall? You can search the government's list to check products you own are safe and subscribe to email updates for new products added. The three types of alert added to the list are: Product recalls – These are for specific products that have been sold in the UK and may require you to act to receive a free replacement, repair or refund from the manufacturer or a retailer. Product safety reports – These are for specific products found in the UK where corrective measures other than a recall have either been ordered by an authority or are being undertaken by a business. Product safety alerts – These highlight product categories or sectors in the UK with risks of serious injury or fatality and where immediate steps are requested by OPSS from businesses, authorities and possibly consumers. If an unsafe product causes injury to you or your family or damage to your property, you may be able to claim compensation, depending on the circumstances. For further advice, contact the consumer helplines of Citizens Advice or Advice Direct Scotland, or your district council in Northern Ireland.
Barnama
31-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
River Care Safeguards Water Supply During Dry Season
M alaysia is fortunate to be rich in natural resources, including an abundant supply of water, for the use of its people. Although the country has experienced water crises due to prolonged droughts that affected raw water storage in dams, communities – especially in the Klang Valley, which often faces raw water shortages – have still had access to this vital resource. In Malaysia, rivers serve as the primary sources of raw water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use. Hence, protecting these rivers is crucial to ensure a continuous and safe water supply for the population. KELAU DAM The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) recently organised an expedition ('Ekspedisi Sumber Air' or EKSAN 2025) to Pahang to raise awareness on the importance of water conservation. The expedition, from June 30 to July 2, saw the participation of about 100 representatives from government agencies and non-governmental organisations, as well as researchers and media practitioners, who were taken to several key locations within the Pahang river basin, which is the main water source for the state. One of the places they stopped at was Kelau dam located in Felda Kelau, Sungai Kelau, about five kilometres upstream of Sungai Bilut in Bentong. According to water services provider Air Selangor vice president I Jaffry Rabu, the Kelau Dam is one of the components of the Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project implemented by the federal government. With a storage capacity of 147.1 million cubic metres of water, the dam is intended to meet the water needs of the Klang Valley. The dam is capable of supplying 1,890 million litres of raw water daily to the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Hulu Langat, Selangor, via a 44.6-kilometre water tunnel that cuts across the Titiwangsa Range. It is the longest water tunnel in Southeast Asia. This tunnel also facilitates water transfer from Sungai Semantan (in Pahang) via the Semantan intake to the Langat 2 WTP. 'When the Langat 2 WTP is operational, the Kelau Dam can supply approximately 20 percent of Selangor's water needs, with the remainder coming from Selangor's own dams,' explained Jaffry. In addition to the Kelau Dam, Air Selangor owns other dams: Sungai Selangor and Sungai Tinggi Dams (Hulu Selangor), Tasik Subang Dam (Petaling), Sungai Langat and Semenyih Dams (Hulu Langat), Labu Off-River Storage Pond (Sepang) and the Klang Gates and Batu Dams (Gombak). According to recent media reports quoting Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd, the first phase of the Langat 2 WTP project – which costs approximately RM4.2 billion and is funded by the federal government – has been fully completed and is expected to begin operations in August. Langat 2 WTP is expected to resolve water shortage issues in Selangor. TAMAN NEGARA Meanwhile, in Pahang, the main source of raw water supply is the 459-kilometre-long Sungai Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia's longest river, which originates in the Jerantut district in western Pahang and flows through several districts before ending in the South China Sea to the east. The expedition participants also visited Taman Negara, setting off by boat from the Kuala Tahan jetty and cruising along Sungai Tahan and Sungai Tembeling, which are part of the Pahang river basin. The participants stopped at various places along Sungai Tembeling, including an Orang Asli village in Jeram Dedari, home to about 30 people of the Batek tribe; Lata Berkoh, a natural waterfall surrounded by dense rainforest; and the Kelah Fish Sanctuary, established by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks as a conservation zone for the kelah fish species. Against the backdrop of the pristine waters flowing from the Lata Berkoh waterfall into major rivers like Sungai Tahan and Sungai Tembeling, the participants received a briefing and demonstration on water sampling by a team from the Faculty of Ocean Engineering and Informatics, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, led by senior lecturer Dr Mohd Sofiyan Sulaiman. Mohd Sofiyan explained that water quality is determined through parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammoniacal nitrogen (AN) and suspended solids (SS). 'The measurements are calculated and used to determine the overall water quality index (WQI), which is then used to classify rivers as Clean (81-100 percent), Moderately Polluted (60-80 percent), or Polluted (0-59 percent). 'The decline in WQI status for rivers not only affects aquatic life but also limits the usability of water resources for human purposes, including daily activities,' he said. He said water quality monitoring is usually conducted by DID and the Department of Environment through composite sampling – samples taken from several locations along the river at depths of at least 0.5 metres from the surface. 'pH readings are usually taken on-site using portable meters for immediate results as water temperature changes can affect pH values in a short time,' he added. WATER SOURCES VS SUPPLY Mohd Sofiyan also explained there is a distinction between the terms 'water source' and 'water supply', pointing out that a water source refers to raw water available in rivers, lakes or dams, whereas water supply refers to water that has been treated at WTPs. He said as of last year, a total of 340 WTPs have been built across the country, with 80 percent of their raw water sources comprising rivers. 'If we look at the current plant capacity, there's a term called the reserve margin, which refers to the difference between supply and demand. For example, if the water demand is 100 million litres and our plant can produce 120 million litres, we have a 20 percent surplus margin. 'According to the latest data, we have a relatively healthy reserve margin of about 15 percent, with three states showing higher margins – Penang (30 percent), Perak (26 percent) and Terengganu (25 percent). 'When a WTP has a high reserve margin, it means there's excess water that can be used in times of emergency, especially during dry seasons,' he said, adding that the reserve margin usually depends on the size of the WTP and the current water demand in the state. He added that unpredictable climate change is putting pressure on the country's raw water sources as catchment areas are receiving less rainfall. Prolonged dry conditions may result in no rainfall, and in some cases, heavy rain may fall outside catchment areas or only briefly within the areas concerned. Mohd Sofiyan also said there is a need for an in-depth study on the Water Stress Index in line with climate change. 'For example, looking ahead to 2050, we must map the availability of water resources against projected demand based on population growth,' he said. He added that by using this index, authorities can identify whether the country is under no stress or facing critical stress as rainfall distribution directly affects the availability of water resources in Malaysia. THE ROLE OF NAWABS Meanwhile, DID deputy director-general (business sector) Mohd Azmin Hussin said to ensure water sufficiency, especially during droughts, the department has developed the National Water Balance Management System (NAWABS) to improve water management efficiency. NAWABS is a comprehensive integrated water resource management instrument implemented at the river basin level. It is designed to monitor and forecast rainfall, water levels and river flow rates, including in dams and intake points, and to provide continuous data on water resource availability. Through NAWABS, DID is able to forecast drought conditions up to two months in advance and issue drought warnings 14 days ahead. This helps provide up-to-date information on water availability in a given basin area, especially regarding river levels, dam storage and available capacity for irrigation and domestic water supply, Mohd Azmin said. 'The development of NAWABS is being carried out in phases. Phase one was approved by the Economic Planning Unit (now known as the Ministry of Economy) in 2017 and successfully covered seven river basins. 'We are now implementing phase two, which was approved in 2018, involving 12 more river basins, including the Pahang river basin,' he said. He emphasised that water is not a static resource, but part of the Earth's complex life ecosystem and therefore exposed to various risks. 'Disruptions to the water cycle, river pollution and climate change all contribute to water resource management crises, which can ultimately affect a country's political and economic stability. 'Access to clean water is the foundation of health, survival and peace. Therefore, today's generation must be educated on the intrinsic value of water and the interconnectedness of communities by instilling in them a sense of empathy and responsibility for water resources to ensure their sustainability,' he added.
Borneo Post
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Premier: RM15 mln approved to rebuild Gedong Waterfront after riverbank collapse
Awang Zamhari (centre) explains the proposed waterfront development plan to Abang Johari and other distinguished guests during the site visit. – Photos by Jude Toyat GEDONG (July 26): The Sarawak government has approved an allocation of RM15 million to redevelop the Gedong Waterfront, following a severe riverbank collapse caused by recent soil erosion that damaged several homes and infrastructure. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the funding would go towards the reconstruction of the river embankment, based on assessments provided by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID). 'We have no choice but to rebuild the waterfront embankment, and according to DID's projection, it will involve an allocation of RM15 million, which I have approved. 'It will be carried out immediately—I have given the approval, and DID has committed to undertake the project,' he told reporters after visiting the erosion site and attending the Pesta Gedong event here today. Abang Johari, who is also Gedong assemblyman, said the redevelopment would also include planning for the affected villages, with discussions to be held involving local leaders including his special representative in Gedong, Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais, and the local Member of Parliament. Abang Johari (fifth right) joins the winning paddlers for a group photo following the prize presentation at Pesta Gedong today. The soil erosion incident had caused five houses to collapse. The state government, he said, would provide assistance by rebuilding the houses at a new, safer resettlement site. 'We have decided to offer relocation to the five affected families. We will help them rebuild their homes, but not in the same area. They will be relocated to a new resettlement area,' he said. Abang Johari also acknowledged that traditional villages around Gedong are facing long-standing issues such as narrow roads and limited access, further supporting the need for a complete redevelopment plan. Recently, Batang Sadong MP Rodiyah Sapiee and Naroden visited the site to inspect the worsening erosion. Rodiyah noted that the damage had affected public infrastructure and nearby homes, including reports of cracked walls and leaning streetlights posing a potential safety hazard. Earlier, Abang Johari presented prizes at the Bidar 25 Pekayuh Lelaki (Pecut) Akhir race, where Team Komeng Sri Berjaya clinched victory with a time of 2 minutes 7 seconds, followed by Landas Azam Kasihnya Warisan 2 at 2:14, and Hazanah MD Gedong in third at 2:21. He also witnessed the traditional boat race held as part of the festival. Also present were Naroden, Rodiyah, Simunjan assemblyman Awla Dris, and Sarawak Land and Survey Department director Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood. Abang Johari Tun Openg Gedong Waterfront infrastructure riverbank erosion
