El Nino: NRES To Hold Engagement With State Govt For Early Preparations - Akmal

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) will coordinate an engagement session to provide detailed briefings on El-Nino to all state governments to ensure that early preparations can be implemented.

Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the matter was decided by the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) following the phenomenon which is expected to continue until at least mid-2027.

"The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has also activated early preparedness measures including 24-hour weather monitoring, weather warning announcements, the preparation of a fire hazard rating system as well as readiness to implement Cloud Seeding Operations if the situation is urgent," he said at the Global Supply Crisis Briefing, today.

Akmal Nasrullah said El Nino has the potential to bring warmer weather and a significant reduction in rainfall, including up to 40 to 60 per cent in several states.

He said the situation could pose risks such as affecting water supplies, haze, putting pressure on public health, affecting food crops and commodities, increasing energy demand and affecting the overall macro economy.

Akmal Nasrullah said the country's experience in facing such weather in 2015 and 2016 with high temperatures exceeding 37 degrees Celsius saw the closure of 250 schools in northern peninsula, in addition to the palm oil industry also recording a decline in production of around 16 to 18 per cent.

Meanwhile, he said the total labour force increased to 17.33 million people while the working population increased to 16.82 million people in April, with the labour force participation rate remaining strong at 70.9 per cent.

"The unemployment rate recorded 3.0 per cent involving 511.8 thousand people. Although there was a slight increase compared to the previous month, the majority of the unemployed, which is 79.5 per cent, are still actively looking for jobs," he said.

Based on data on benefit applications under the Employment Insurance System (EIS) of the Social Security Organisation (Socso), Akmal Nasrullah said a total of 7,766 workers lost their jobs in May compared to 7,162 workers in April.

At the same time, he said there was a positive development in terms of job placement with MYFutureJobs data showing job placements increased by 19.0 per cent, from 12,119 placements in April 2026 to 14,366 placements in May 2026, including job seekers through the MYFutureJobs portal and those receiving EIS benefits.

He said the government would continue to monitor the issue of job losses and strengthen job matching efforts so that affected workers could return to work faster and household incomes continued to be protected.

Regarding the health sector, Akmal Nasrullah reiterated the government's commitment to strengthen buffer stocks, expand supply sources and expedite access to critical medicines when needed.

He said among the actions that had been taken included the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Health (MOH) through the Medical Devices Authority (MDA) with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan on June 8 in conjunction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to the country.

In addition, based on MOH's monitoring until May 8, Akmal Nasrullah said 72 per cent of medicine items were at a low risk level while for medical devices, 81.7 per cent were at a low risk level.

Regarding the one-off provision of an advance of Ploughing Incentive to Farmers of RM200 per hectare to farmers in the Peninsula who started padi planting in season 1 2026, Akmal Nasrullah said that to date, 90 per cent or almost 180,000 farmers have received payment.

-- BERNAMA