Economy minister warns El Nino could cut rainfall by up to 60pc and impact economy

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — Malaysia is preparing for the possible return of the El Niño weather phenomenon, which is expected to begin in June 2026 and potentially last until at least mid-2027.

Economy Minister Datuk Seri Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the phenomenon could bring hotter weather and a sharp reduction in rainfall of between 40 and 60 per cent in several states.

“This risk must not be underestimated as it may affect water supply, increase haze risk, place pressure on public health, impact food and commodity crops, increase energy demand, and affect the overall macroeconomic environment,” he said during an online global supply crisis briefing today.

He said past El Niño events had shown how severe the consequences could be for both the economy and public services.

In 2015 and 2016, he said high temperatures exceeding 37 degrees Celsius led to the closure of 250 schools in northern Peninsular Malaysia.

He added that the palm oil industry recorded a production decline of around 16 to 18 per cent during that period.

“Overall, key commodity sectors may experience yield reductions of around 8 to 10 per cent during an El Niño event,” he said.

On Tuesday, National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Meor Ismail Meor Akim said the government is stepping up national preparedness measures in response to forecasts of hotter and drier conditions linked to the El Niño phenomenon.

He said that although the situation remains under control, the government is treating the outlook seriously and has directed all relevant agencies to enhance readiness and implement early mitigation measures.

As part of these early intervention efforts, three cloud-seeding operations have been planned in the near future to help improve rainfall distribution and support reservoir levels in affected areas.