Worst Ever Droughts

The Selangor Waterworks Department issued a warning to the public to brace themselves for the worst ever drought to hit the country. The water level in the Klang Gate Dam had dropped considerably below the emergency level where water rationing is usually imposed.

Already some kampongs in Tampin and Rembau are having difficulties getting drinking water and some of the people were forced to use river water as well have dried up. The Meteorological Department said the dry spell is expected to last 2 months and is "normal" during a late N.L. monsoon period.

The situation prompted the New Straits Times editorial to comment that "the act of God theory is wearing thin". It blamed the Jabatan Kerja Rava for aross imcompetence in their public relations and the total failure in planning and development of new resources. It castigated the Department for its total neglect to inform the public of the impending crisis and a conservation campaign was not seriously attempted.

Ref: NST 1.2.792.2.79