NADMA Strengthens Proactive Cloud Seeding Operations In Sarawak
KUCHING: The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) will strengthen a proactive approach in executing Cloud Seeding Operations (OPA) in Sarawak without waiting for requests from the Sarawak Government, particularly to address falling water levels in several catchment areas.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Patinggi Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that future OPA implementations will be coordinated based on professional advice from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), specifically concerning wind movements and cloud formations capable of bringing rain to areas in need.
According to him, this approach is vital following reports of several reservoirs experiencing a decline in water levels to critical thresholds.
“Do not wait for requests to conduct cloud seeding operations; instead, we must obtain professional advice from MetMalaysia to monitor wind surges and rain-bearing cloud systems over specific locations, especially since several reservoirs are experiencing depleted water catchments leading to critical situations,” he said.
He said this during a press conference following the National Disaster Management High-Level Committee (HLC) Meeting No. 1/2026 at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here on Wednesday.
Datuk Patinggi Dr Ahmad Zahid added that NADMA had previously conducted at least three OPA missions in Sarawak based on requests from the Sarawak Government.
He noted that the new approach allows for earlier action based on current weather conditions and MetMalaysia's technical advice, eliminating the need to wait for situations to worsen.
He further explained that OPA executions will be coordinated primarily to boost water supply in affected catchment areas or reservoirs, thereby reinforcing preparedness against hot and dry weather spells.
Also present were Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBNS) Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, as well as Deputy Minister for Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang. — UKASnews
