Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival

50 nations to join Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival

The Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has achieved its target of getting 50 nations to participate.

Malaysia Kite Council secretary Ismail Mat Taib said the festival, themed "Flying for Harmony", is set to enter the Malaysia Book of Records with an event with the highest participation of foreign nations.

The festival is organised by the state government through the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council, in collaboration with the Johor Tourism Department, Johor Kite Association and Malaysian Kite Council.

Some 200,000 visitors are expected to turn up at the five-day event which will see colourful kites dot the Pasir Gudang sky.

Date: 25 February - 1 March 2015
Location: Bukit Layang-Layang, Pasir Gudang

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Hot weather to ease by March end

Hot weather to ease by March end: Met dept

The hot and dry spell in many areas is in the final phase of the monsoon season which is expected to abate by the end of March, said Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail.

“It is now the tail end of the northeast monsoon which causes many areas to receive less rain over an extended period, leading to the hot and dry weather,” she said when attending the 2015 message by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, here today.

Che Gayah said the current weather condition had not reached the ‘hot wave’ level and was still categorised as normal with 30 per cent rainfall based on the long term average.

Asked if the temperature of the hot and dry weather was different from last year, she said there was not see much difference with the temperature varying over three degrees Celcius.

The temperature in Malaysia is currently between 33 and 35 degrees Celcius.

Che Gayah said the inter-monsoon season would start in April until mid-May, when states in the peninsula would experience wet weather with thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

She said heavy rain and thunderstorm were common before the southwest monsoon begins from June to September which is the dry and haze season.

Che Gayah said under its standard operating procedure (SOP), the department would only carry out cloud seeding when haze reached the level hazardous to human health.

“The department is always prepared to conduct cloud seeding with private flight companies to overcome the problem. At times, dam operators will also carry out cloud seeding to raise the level of water. If they seek our help, we will be prepared to assist,” she said.



Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail says the hot weather is expected to cool down by the end of March.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Happy Chinese New Year 2015