Perak: The state Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) has applied for cloud-seeding operations to be carried out in the Bukit Merah Dam catchment area and the upper reaches of the Sungai Perak basin as a mitigation measure to ensure the sustainable management of the state's water resources. State Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the official application has been submitted to the Perak State Secretary's Office following the prolonged dry season.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the INTAP Office supports the application for the cloud-seeding operation to be conducted in the catchment area, particularly around Tasik Temengor and the Bukit Merah Dam, to increase the chances of rainfall. Mohammad Nizar noted that monitoring with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) revealed low water levels at Tasik Temengor due to limited natural water inflow and reduced rainfall over the past few months. This situation has impacted downstream dams like Tasik Bersia, Tasik Kenering, and Tasik Chenderoh, which are now operating at minimum levels set by TNB.
The low water levels have also affected local communities' socio-economic activities, which rely on the Sungai Perak water source, and have worsened eco-tourism activities in the Tasik Temengor and Tasik Raban areas. Additionally, there is a medium-term risk to the security of water and energy supplies, including the Janamanjung power station, which contributes significantly to Peninsular Malaysia's energy needs.
Mohammad Nizar stated that the Tasik Bukit Merah water level is currently at 6.416 meters, with remaining water storage of about 10.837 million cubic meters, indicating a critical irrigation level. As a result, water supply operations for irrigating rice fields in the Kerian Irrigation Plan have been rationed, although domestic water supply remains unchanged. Monitoring records show a significant drop in the Bukit Merah Dam water level from December 2025, reaching a critical level in January 2026.
Based on the standard operating procedures for drought and dry season disaster activation in Perak, operational activation is considered when dam storage and river flow rates exceed alert levels for three consecutive weeks. To mitigate the dry season's effects, preventive measures like rationing irrigation supplies and using mobile pumps at affected locations are being implemented with the cooperation of JPS and the Kerian Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA).