06/04/2026

MONDAY | APR 6, 2026

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M’sian cities ill-prepared for heat surge: Expert

Credit govt for firm stand on Iran, says PM JOHOR BAHRU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged that credit be given to the government for strengthening diplomatic ties and taking a firm stand on issues involving Iran and the Gaza conflict. He said Malaysia’s stance, including protests against Israeli and US attacks on Iran, had helped secure the safe passage of Malaysian ships through the Strait of Hormuz. “Do you think it was easy to persuade the Iranian president to let our ship pass through the Strait of Hormuz? I’m not saying the previous government was unfriendly with Iran, but it’s not like what we have now. We can call repeatedly, we can propose in Parliament to oppose the Israeli and US attacks on Iran,” he said at the Johor Keadilan Convention yesterday. “See how many countries in the world have made statements as strong as Malaysia did on the Iran war. So, give the government some credit. The Opposition thought it was easy.” Also present were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, PKR vice president Datuk Seri R. Ramanan and Johor Keadilan State Leadership Council chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa. Anwar expressed disappointment that the Opposition has often overlooked his efforts, particularly his meeting with US President Donald Trump in the president’s official vehicle, “The Beast”. “It’s true that I negotiated but I did not sacrifice the country’s interests.” He said he had conveyed to Trump the plight of the Palestinian people. “I said all this to President Donald Trump because I come from the spirit of justice reform. Many leaders talk but do they dare to face it?” Anwar said he had delivered a similar message to former US President Joe Biden, criticising Western hypocrisy and the ongoing oppression and occupation in Gaza. He said these actions reflected Malaysia’s reformist principles, establishing the country as a firm voice on global geopolitical issues. Anwar also credited Johor’s strong economic performance to federal support and policies. “For example, the Forest City project was revived, the long-delayed Maharani port received assistance and the Johor Singapore Special Economic Zone was fully supported by the federal government.” – Bernama Attacks on Unifil personnel slammed KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has condemned in no uncertain terms the continued attacks on United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) peacekeepers in southern Lebanon which have resulted in deaths and injuries among UN personnel. In a statement issued yesterday, the Foreign Ministry said the latest incident on April 3 in El Addaiseh injured three Indonesian peacekeepers. “These attacks are in serious violation of international law, and those responsible must be held accountable.” The statement also called on all parties to ensure the safety of UN personnel and emphasise the inviolability of UN missions. – Bernama

o ‘Urban areas facing year-round high temperatures, humidity and deteriorating air quality that planning frameworks have failed to address’

Fong emphasised the need for greater public awareness and behavioural change, warning that many Malaysians underestimate the risks due to perceived “adaptation” to heat. “Many people in tropical cities develop a form of adaptive thermal comfort, whereby they become accustomed to high temperatures and may underestimate the health risks of prolonged heat exposure or poor air quality.” He urged communities, schools and households to adopt daily protective measures such as adjusting activity schedules, staying hydrated, improving ventilation, increasing shade and reducing pollution sources, including open burning and excessive vehicle use. Fong warned that risks escalate significantly when prolonged heat coincides with haze caused by forest fires or open burning. “In tropical cities, prolonged heat combined with haze creates a compound exposure risk. “High humidity reduces the body’s ability to cool itself, making heat stress more dangerous, while particulate pollution affects the lungs and cardiovascular system.” He said urban ecosystem management offers a pathway to address both threats simultaneously. “In tropical environments, this integrated approach is essential because heat and pollution are not separate challenges but reinforce each other. “Even well-designed environments will not fully protect communities if people underestimate the risks or do not adapt their daily practices accordingly.” Malaysia has been gripped by a heatwave over the past month. The Meteorological Department has warned that the hot and dry conditions are expected to persist until the onset of the Southwest Monsoon in June.

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

largely reactive. He added that tropical cities require continuous thermal and air quality management rather than short-term emergency measures. He called for long-term urban design interventions, including expanding tree canopy coverage and green-blue infrastructure to provide shade, cooling and pollutant filtration as well as preserving ventilation corridors to enable heat and pollutants to disperse. “At the same time, reducing emissions from transport, energy use and urban activities is essential to improve baseline air quality. “These strategies must be embedded into planning regulations and infrastructure design so that cities are cooler and cleaner every day, not just during extreme events.” Fong also highlighted a critical policy gap – the absence of enforceable, tropical-specific standards that integrate heat resilience and air quality into development planning. “While Malaysia has policies on climate change and environmental protection, heat resilience and air quality are not consistently embedded into local planning approvals, building codes or neighbourhood design standards.” He said requirements for shading, greenery and ventilation are often not mandatory, while the use of high-resolution data to identify localised heat and pollution hotspots remains limited.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s worsening urban heat is not just a weather problem but also a planning failure, with cities ill-equipped to cope with constant thermal stress in a tropical climate, said Universiti Malaya Institute for Advanced Studies senior lecturer Dr Fong Chng Saun. He said urban areas are facing a dangerous convergence of year-round heat, high humidity and deteriorating air quality – a combination that current planning frameworks have yet to adequately address. “Malaysia’s challenge is not just urban heat. It is urban heat in a tropical climate where high temperatures, strong solar radiation and persistent humidity already create year-round thermal stress. “However, our planning systems are treating heat as seasonal rather than constant, and this is why heat management is often treated as episodic instead of structural.” Fong said the burden falls disproportionately on vulnerable groups, including low-income communities, outdoor workers, the elderly and children, particularly those in dense, poorly ventilated neighbourhoods with limited greenery and higher exposure to both heat and pollution. He said existing responses such as cooling centres and public alerts remain

Fong emphasised the need for greater public awareness and behavioural change, adding that many Malaysians underestimate the risks due to perceived ‘adaptation’ to heat. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

Move to delay GE16 lauded MANJUNG: Umno has welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s indication that the 16th General Election (GE16) will not be held in the near future to focus on addressing the rising cost of living.

soon to make way for GE16 as the government aims to focus on economic recovery and public well-being. Asyraf Wajdi said rising global oil prices, driven by geopolitical factors and international conflicts, present a major challenge beyond the country’s control and directly impact the people. “The approach suggested by the prime minister reflects a high sense of responsibility and concern for the reality currently faced by the people.” – Bernama

people can cope with the increasingly acute cost of living.” He was speaking after officiating at the 2026 concurrent Umno branch meetings and the Lumut Umno division Aidilfitri Open House at Dewan Merdeka yesterday. Also present was Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, who is also the Lumut Umno division chief. On Saturday, Anwar had indicated that the Dewan Rakyat would not be dissolved anytime

Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said given current global uncertainties, all parties should set aside power struggles and focus on the welfare of the people. “What is most important is for the nation’s leaders to remain focused on ensuring that