Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Hot weather to ease by March end

Hot weather to ease by March end: Met dept

The hot and dry spell in many areas is in the final phase of the monsoon season which is expected to abate by the end of March, said Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail.

“It is now the tail end of the northeast monsoon which causes many areas to receive less rain over an extended period, leading to the hot and dry weather,” she said when attending the 2015 message by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, here today.

Che Gayah said the current weather condition had not reached the ‘hot wave’ level and was still categorised as normal with 30 per cent rainfall based on the long term average.

Asked if the temperature of the hot and dry weather was different from last year, she said there was not see much difference with the temperature varying over three degrees Celcius.

The temperature in Malaysia is currently between 33 and 35 degrees Celcius.

Che Gayah said the inter-monsoon season would start in April until mid-May, when states in the peninsula would experience wet weather with thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

She said heavy rain and thunderstorm were common before the southwest monsoon begins from June to September which is the dry and haze season.

Che Gayah said under its standard operating procedure (SOP), the department would only carry out cloud seeding when haze reached the level hazardous to human health.

“The department is always prepared to conduct cloud seeding with private flight companies to overcome the problem. At times, dam operators will also carry out cloud seeding to raise the level of water. If they seek our help, we will be prepared to assist,” she said.



Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail says the hot weather is expected to cool down by the end of March.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Malacca airport a boost for tourism

Malacca airport a boost for tourism

As the entry point by air into the state, the Malacca International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam has become busier since Malindo Air began operations to it last November.

The airport, says the state Exco for Transport and Rehabilitation Projects Datuk Lim Ban Hong, can be the catalyst for boosting Malacca’s tourism industry.

He added that Malindo Air’s five times weekly flights to Penang, Kelantan and Pekan Baru (Indonesia) are a key factor in encouraging the arrival of both local and overseas tourists.

“It includes tourists from Indonesia, particularly Pekan Baru, with Malacca being a medical tourism state now.

“The air entry point is now a very important one for the state and we hope that in time, we will start receiving tourists from other countries such as China,” Lim said.

The LTAM, completed in 2011, has a 2,135 metre runway with a 45 metre clearance for large aircraft, including the Airbus 320.

It started operations on a low key note but seems to have received a new lease of life with Malindo Air’s presence.

Malacca has set a target of 15 million tourist arrivals in the state in 2015 with 120,000 of them being medical tourists seeking specialist treatment at private hospitals.

Lim said the frequency of flights will encourage bigger participation by travel agents in Malacca and also promote it on the international stage as a heritage site.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~