Govt plans national drought response as El Niño threatens extreme heat in early 2027, Dewan Rakyat told

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) will propose the development of a drought action plan to the National Disaster Management Council to strengthen preparedness for the phenomenon.

Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the proposal would be submitted for the council’s consideration, so that action plans for floods and droughts could also be developed, in addition to the existing National Haze Action Plan.

“This is something that will be brought to the National Disaster Management Council, so that, apart from an action plan for haze, we will also have action plans for floods and droughts,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat) on the government’s measures in the event of a severe drought or El Nino, including identifying high-risk areas and coordinating efforts among departments, while winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2027 (Budget 2027) at the policy stage, for his ministry.

Earlier, Arthur said that, based on current projections, the strong El Nino phenomenon was expected to intensify to the very strong category between November 2026 and January 2027, and could persist until May 2027.

He added that the phenomenon could bring drier weather and extreme heat between January and May 2027, with maximum temperatures potentially reaching 40 degrees Celsius, particularly in the northern and interior parts of the Peninsula, as well as several interior areas of Sabah and Sarawak.

He said reduced rainfall was also expected, particularly between January and March 2027, with potentially more significant effects in the northern part of the Peninsula and Sabah.

In another development, Arthur said the implementation of a carbon tax should be carried out carefully and in stages, once the Climate Change Bill and the Climate Change Authority Bill were passed and gazetted, and their implementation frameworks were operating effectively.

Industry readiness must be taken into account to ensure that the transition to a low-carbon economy would not affect the country’s economic growth.

“NRES continues to provide cooperation and technical input to the Finance Ministry, to ensure that the implementation of any carbon pricing instruments is in line with the country’s climate change policies and commitments,” he said.

Meanwhile, on the issue of transboundary haze, he said that the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) did not currently provide for a specific mechanism for compensation claims between countries.

However, Arthur said the government was open to examining the suitability of other legal mechanisms for compensation and damages, subject to the availability of a legal basis under international law.

“In this regard, a comprehensive study of the economic losses caused by haze, including its effects on public health, productivity and economic activity, is important as a scientific and economic basis for policy consideration and follow-up action,” he said.

Proposals for financial assistance to affected people, particularly gig workers, and the establishment of a haze disaster fund, required further study with the relevant ministries and agencies, taking into account existing assistance mechanisms, actual needs and the government’s financial implications.

The government would also continue to strengthen enforcement cooperation through bilateral and Asean channels, including by promoting the implementation of the polluter pays principle, he said. — Bernama

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吉隆坡，10 月 28 日讯——自然资源及环境可持续发展部 (NRES) 将向国家灾害管理委员会提议制定干旱行动计划，以加强应对干旱的准备工作。

自然资源与环境可持续发展部长拿督斯里亚瑟·约瑟夫·库鲁普表示，该提案将提交理事会审议，以便在现有的国家雾霾行动计划之外，制定应对洪水和干旱的行动计划。

“我们将把此事提交给国家灾害管理委员会，以便除了制定雾霾行动计划外，我们还能制定洪水和干旱行动计划，”他今天在国会下议院表示。

他在结束关于 2027 年供应法案（2027 年预算案）政策阶段的辩论时，回答了拿督穆姆塔兹·莫哈末·纳维（国盟-敦帕特）关于政府在发生严重干旱或厄尔尼诺现象时的措施的问题，包括确定高风险地区和协调各部门的努力。

此前，亚瑟表示，根据目前的预测，强厄尔尼诺现象预计将在 2026 年 11 月至 2027 年 1 月期间增强至非常强的级别，并可能持续到 2027 年 5 月。

他还补充说，这种现象可能会在 2027 年 1 月至 5 月期间带来更干燥的天气和极端高温，最高气温可能达到 40 摄氏度，尤其是在马来半岛北部和内陆地区，以及沙巴和砂拉越的几个内陆地区。

他还表示，预计降雨量也会减少，尤其是在 2027 年 1 月至 3 月期间，半岛北部和沙巴地区可能会受到更显著的影响。

亚瑟表示，在《气候变化法案》和《气候变化管理局法案》获得通过并公布，且其实施框架有效运作之后，碳税的实施应该谨慎地分阶段进行。

必须考虑产业准备情况，以确保向低碳经济转型不会影响国家的经济增长。

“国家可再生能源服务局将继续向财政部提供合作和技术支持，以确保任何碳定价机制的实施都符合该国的气候变化政策和承诺，”他说。

与此同时，关于跨境烟霾问题，他表示，《东盟跨境烟霾污染协定》（AATHP）目前没有规定国家间赔偿请求的具体机制。

然而，亚瑟表示，政府愿意研究其他赔偿和损害赔偿的法律机制是否合适，前提是国际法有相应的法律依据。

“在这方面，对雾霾造成的经济损失，包括其对公众健康、生产力和经济活动的影响进行全面研究，对于政策考量和后续行动而言，具有重要的科学和经济基础，”他说道。

向受影响民众（特别是零工人员）提供财政援助的建议，以及设立雾霾灾害基金的建议，需要与相关部委和机构进一步研究，同时考虑到现有的援助机制、实际需求和政府的财政影响。

他表示，政府还将继续通过双边和东盟渠道加强执法合作，包括推动落实“污染者付费”原则。——马新社

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