KUALA LUMPUR: It is not ideal for the 15th general election to be held during the Northeast Monsoon which is expected to begin next month.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) deputy director-general (strategic and technical) Dr Mohd Hashim Mohd Anip said GE15 should not be held this year, specifically during a time when weather patterns are going through change.
"In our opinion, from the point of view of the disaster management community, in general we do not encourage GE15 being held (at this time).
"This is because during the transition into the Northeast Monsoon period itself, there will be many locations throughout Malaysia that will face flooding.
"So, it's not the ideal time to hold elections as a lot depends on the weather," he said during a question-and-answer session at the National Weather Forum: Northeast Monsoon 2022/2023 organised online by MetMalaysia.
The forum was opened by Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. Among the panel members were Drainage and Irrigation Department deputy director Dr Asnor Muizan Ishak and National Disaster Management deputy director-general (planning and disaster preparedness) Jamil Derus Ahmad.
Hisham said the monsoon, which is expected to begin mid-November and end in March next year, would likely see four to six significant episodes of continuous heavy rains which could lead to floods, particularly during its most active period of November-January.
"In Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, continuous heavy rains will likely occur between November and December, while between December this year and February next year, such rain spells are expected in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.
"However, heavy rains can also occur in the west coast of the peninsula if the monsoon is particularly strong or if there is a low pressure system," he said.