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Preparing for El Nino: A guide for Malaysians

EL NINO is back on Malaysia's radar, bringing with it the prospect of longer dry spells, soaring temperatures and hazy skies.

The Star MalaysiaThe Star2026-10-01 00:31查看原文 ↗

According to Zurich Malaysia’s Climate Resilience Survey, 74% of Malaysians said they are highly concerned about heatwaves, with nearly half rating their concern a ‘10 out of 10’.

EL NINO is back on Malaysia’s radar, bringing with it the prospect of longer dry spells, soaring temperatures and hazy skies.

For many households, these changes can feel like background noise – until they suddenly aren’t.

A heatwave could leave an elderly family member struggling with heat exhaustion, while worsening haze conditions could keep children indoors, or an unexpected water disruption could catch a family off guard.

While El Nino’s effects can’t always be avoided, being ready for them is within reach.

Gap between concern and readiness

According to Zurich Malaysia’s Climate Resilience Survey, which involved 1,100 respondents, 74% of Malaysians said they are highly concerned about heatwaves, with nearly half rating their concern a “10 out of 10”.

Despite this high level of concern, 54% of respondents admitted they do not feel adequately prepared for potential climate events, highlighting a clear gap between concern and readiness.

Financial considerations play a role too, as the survey found that 38% of respondents frequently or consistently face financial barriers when preparing for climate events, while 71% agree that greater financial resources would help their households recover more quickly.

And the impact isn’t just personal. With 58% of respondents saying their local communities have already been negatively affected by climate-related events, the findings highlight that resilience is as much a community effort as a household one.

What El Nino means for homes

El Nino typically brings hotter, drier conditions, raising the risk of:

> Heatwaves: Prolonged high temperatures that can cause heat stress and dehydration, particularly for sensitive groups;

> Haze: Reduced air quality linked to dry-season wildfires in the region;

> Water stress: Lower rainfall places pressure on household and community water supplies; and

> Wildfires: Drier vegetation increases fire risk in and around urban fringes.

None of these risks is entirely preventable, but early preparation can meaningfully reduce a household’s exposure and help families respond faster when conditions intensify.

Practical preparedness does not need to be complicated either. It can entail simple safety steps such as:

> Heatwave readiness: Stay hydrated, avoid peak-sun outdoor activity and keep homes ventilated or shaded during the hottest hours;

> Emergency planning: Agree on a simple household plan – like where to go, who to call and what to pack – before conditions worsen;

> Haze safety: Keep masks on hand, monitor the Air Pollutant Index (API) and limit outdoor exposure on high-haze days; and

> Water-saving: Fix leaks early, store water where practical and build conservation into daily routines.

In light of these factors and climate change concerns, Zurich Malaysia has worked directly with communities in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka to understand and reduce climate risk through the Urban Climate Resilience Programme (UCRP) since 2023.

Powered by the Z Zurich Foundation, UCRP was developed to address urban climate challenges, ensuring cities and communities can better withstand and recover from climate-related disasters.

Local monitoring under the programme has recorded temperatures exceeding 35°C across prolonged periods in urban areas.

This data is now informing real interventions, from heat-reflective paint to improved shade and greenery, all aimed at reducing heat exposure and improving comfort.

It’s this same practical, ground-up approach that shapes Zurich Malaysia’s broader message to households: Resilience isn’t built overnight, but it is built through small, consistent actions.

With forecasts suggesting that the heatwave could intensify into a “super” El Nino, and its conditions continuing to shape Malaysia’s weather patterns, the households best placed to cope will be the ones who start preparing before the heat sets in.

Whether it’s a family emergency plan, a haze-ready kit or simply understanding the risks better, every step taken now adds up to stronger resilience later.

For more information on Zurich Malaysia’s climate resilience initiatives, visit https://www.zurich.com.my/about-zurich/corporate-responsibility/urban-climate-resilience-program.

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根据苏黎世马来西亚气候适应力调查，74%的马来西亚人表示他们非常关注热浪，其中近一半人将他们的关注程度评为“10 分（满分 10 分）”。

厄尔尼诺现象再次引起马来西亚的关注，预计将带来更长时间的干旱、飙升的气温和雾霾天气。

对许多家庭来说，这些变化可能感觉像是背景噪音——直到它们突然变得不再是噪音为止。

热浪可能导致家中老人中暑，雾霾加剧可能导致儿童待在室内，而突如其来的停水也可能让家庭措手不及。

虽然厄尔尼诺现象的影响并非总能避免，但做好准备是完全可以做到的。

关注度与准备度之间的差距

根据苏黎世马来西亚气候适应力调查（该调查涉及 1100 名受访者），74% 的马来西亚人表示他们非常关注热浪，其中近一半人将他们的关注程度评为“10 分（满分 10 分）”。

尽管人们对此高度关注，但 54% 的受访者承认他们觉得自己没有为潜在的气候事件做好充分准备，这凸显了关注程度与准备程度之间存在明显的差距。