CLOUD seeding operations will be conducted in Sarawak and northern Peninsular Malaysia for three days from Sept 3 to help mitigate worsening haze, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said today.
He said approval had been granted for the operation, while preparations were under way for a Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) aircraft to be deployed.
"The application for the operation has been approved for implementation from Sept 3 to 5, involving Sarawak and northern Peninsular Malaysia. Preparations for the TUDM aircraft are under way," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after officiating the 44th annual general meeting of the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association at Hotel Platinum Putatan in Sabah.
Arthur said the operation would focus on affected areas in southern Sarawak as well as locations recording hazardous and unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.
However, he said the operation would depend on weather conditions, including humidity levels and the availability of suitable clouds, based on monitoring by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia).
"If the weather is too dry and hot and there are no clouds, cloud seeding cannot be carried out," he said.
Arthur said the three-day operation had two main objectives — generating rain to help reduce API readings and clearing smoke particles from the air.
"It will also target water reservoirs to raise water levels and help safeguard clean water supplies," he said.
He said the ministry had stepped up haze monitoring as the country transitions from the Southwest Monsoon to a Super El Niño phenomenon, which is contributing to reduced rainfall, higher temperatures, drier weather and an increase in hotspots.
While haze reports were previously issued twice a day, monitoring was now being conducted hourly, with the latest readings to be released to the public several times a day.
Based on API readings from 68 monitoring stations nationwide this morning, 50 stations recorded moderate air quality, 13 unhealthy readings, two very unhealthy readings and two hazardous readings.
Kuching recorded an API reading of 295, followed by Sri Aman at 214, Serian at 374 and Samarahan at 300.
Arthur said the ministry had also issued warnings and preventive advice, including wearing face masks in affected areas, reducing outdoor activities, drinking sufficient water and seeking medical attention if experiencing breathing difficulties.
He said Malaysia was prepared to increase the frequency of cloud seeding operations if haze conditions worsened, including continuing cooperation with Indonesia to allow operations to be expanded.
"I have reiterated Malaysia's request to share airspace to expand cloud seeding operations. Indonesia has allowed us to enter its airspace through an official letter received recently," he said.
On cross-border haze, Arthur said the issue had also been raised at the ASEAN level, including during a meeting in Indonesia recently.
He said METMalaysia had also developed the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model to improve the accuracy of cross-border haze forecasts, which had been shared for use by countries in the Asian region.
"We introduced the CMAQ system and it has been accepted by the ASEAN Secretariat as one of the best systems for regional data sharing," he said.
Arthur said cross-border operational cooperation and enforcement needed to be strengthened, including through new ASEAN laws or regulations to tackle the root causes of haze.
"We support Indonesia's firm legal measures because burning does not only affect the country of origin, but causes losses across the entire ASEAN region," he said. - August 30, 2026
