PUTRAJAYA: The government has no immediate plan to declare an emergency amid the hot spell in the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi however said it was ready to activate the National Security Council Directive No. 20 on the national disaster management policy and mechanism in addressing the situation.
It is a proactive and generic plan in disaster management, which covers prevention, preparedness, response and recovery and emergency.
"We've agreed that preventive measures are needed to mitigate the situation.
"Cloud seeding will be carried out soon in a cooperation between the armed forces, in particular air force, and Meteorological Department, focusing on seven dams that are expected to see a drop in water levels," he said after chairing the Central Disaster Management Committee Meeting today.
They are Sungai Muda, Sungai Kedah, Sungai Melaka, Sungai Kelantan, Sungai Klang, Sungai Bernam and Sungai Similajau.
The Climate Emergency Coalition of Malaysia recently suggested that the government treat the phenomenon as a visible impact of the climate emergency.
It said the government must come up with heatwave action plans and conduct vulnerability assessments in a bid to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people and protect the most vulnerable.
Experts predicted temperature at some locations in Malaysia is expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius in July.