TAIPING: Despite being known as the wettest town in Peninsular Malaysia, Taiping is currently experiencing a week-long drought.
This phenomenon has led to some parts of the Taiping Lake Gardens drying up due to the extreme weather conditions.
Pokok Assam assemblyman Ong Seng Guan said the lake began drying up three weeks ago, primarily due to the lack of rainfall.
Ong said that approximately 40 per cent of the lake has been affected by this weather condition.
"The temperature has also reached about 40 degrees Celsius there for several weeks, which has caused a few waterfalls and rivers near Bukit Larut to dry up," he said when contacted by the New Straits Times today.
Taiping receives the most rainfall, making it the wettest town in Peninsular Malaysia.
The average annual rainfall is about 4,000mm in Taiping while the peninsula's average is between 2,000mm and 2,500mm.
He added that a similar phenomenon had occurred about 10 years ago.
"We are currently monitoring the situation and based on the weather forecast, there may be rain in the next few days.
"At present, the Taiping Municipal Council is taking advantage of this situation to clean up the lake and its surrounding area.
"They are also clearing up the drainage systems at the foothill of Bukit Larut to ensure smooth water flow when the rain returns," he said.