RAIN NEXT MONTH EXPECTED TO CHECK HOT SPELL IN MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- The current hot weather in the country is
a normal phenomenon and is expected to end next month, according to the
Meteorological Department.

Forecaster Azmi Atan said this phenomenon often occurred early in the year
but would not lead to drought.

"Such weather is not expected to prolong and rain is expected beginning next
month," he said when contacted by Bernama Tuesday.

Records at the department show that the hottest area in the country was
Chuping district in Perlis, which experienced 36.6 degrees Celcius yesterday,
while the highest temperature in the Klang Valley was recorded in Petaling Jaya,
at 34.7 degrees.

Meanwhile, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) (Selangor Water
Works) Corporate
Communications and Public Affairs General Manager Abdul Halem Mat Som said usage
of water in the Klang Valley so far this year was normal.


"Generally, Malaysians use a lot of water. However, the usage of water over
the last one month during the hot weather has been normal and any increase was
not too drastic," he said.

He said Syabas still had adequate reserves of water to meet the needs of the
people in the Klang Valley.

However, he advised the people to use water sparingly so that sufficient
water would be available should the hot spell prolong.

-- BERNAMA