Kedah: Cloud Seeding Operations (OPA) began today in Kedah and Perlis in response to declining water levels at dams currently at alert and critical stages, said the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, NADMA announced in a Facebook post that the operations were carried out on the recommendation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The initiative aims to boost water levels at dams in the northern region of the Peninsula. The agency has coordinated two OPA series scheduled from May 10 to 12 and May 17 to 19.

On the first day of operations, a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) C-130 aircraft was deployed, carrying four tanks with a total of 6,000 litres of salt solution. The targeted areas include the Timah Tasoh Dam in Perlis and the Ahning, Pedu, Beris, and Muda dams in Kedah.

The objective of the OPA is to prevent further declines in water levels, which could impact agricultural and household supplies in the northern regions. While there has been rainfall in recent days, the amount of rainwater entering the dams remains minimal.

On May 5, the Prime Minister directed the RMAF and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) to intensify cloud seeding operations in northern Peninsular Malaysia due to the ongoing dry spell.