The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a thunderstorm, heavy rain and strong wind warning involving multiple states nationwide until 7pm on May 12.

The warning covers Kedah, involving Pokok Sena, Padang Terap, Pendang, Kuala Muda, Sik, Baling, Kulim and Bandar Baharu.

In Perak, the affected areas are Larut, Matang dan Selama, Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Kinta, Kampar, Hilir Perak, Batang Padang and Muallim, while the whole of Kelantan is also under alert.

In Terengganu, the warning involves Besut, Setiu, Hulu Terengganu, Dungun and Kemaman, while in Pahang, affected areas include Cameron Highlands, Jerantut, Bentong, Temerloh, Kuantan, Bera, Pekan and Rompin.

For Selangor, the warning covers Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Hulu Langat, alongside Kuala Lumpur.

Negeri Sembilan districts under alert are Jelebu, Seremban, Kuala Pilah, Jempol and Tampin, while the whole of Johor is also expected to experience adverse weather conditions.

In Sarawak, affected areas include Kuching, Betong (Saratok and Kabong), Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu (Tatau), Miri (Subis and Beluru) and Limbang.

Meanwhile, Sabah areas under the warning are the Interior districts of Sipitang, Tenom, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort, Keningau and Tambunan; the West Coast districts of Papar, Putatan, Penampang, Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran; as well as Sandakan and Kinabatangan in the Sandakan division. Labuan is also under alert.

MetMalaysia said the warning is issued when there are signs of thunderstorms with rainfall intensity exceeding 20mm per hour that are imminent or expected to last for more than an hour.

The thunderstorm warning is a short-term alert valid for no more than six hours for each issuance.

The Penang government said pollution affecting Kampung Selamat and Sungai Kereh in Tasek Gelugor is not solely caused by pig farming activities, but is also linked to agricultural operations, waste discharge, drainage systems and other environmental factors.

Penang Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said enforcement action is being carried out in an integrated manner involving the Department of Environment (DOE), local authorities, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and other technical agencies to identify the actual causes and implement corrective measures.

Among the measures being planned is the transfer of pig waste to the Ampang Jajar Transfer Station (SPAJ) to be processed as feedstock for an anaerobic digestion system.

“Through this process, organic waste is broken down in an oxygen-free environment to produce methane gas, which can be utilised as a renewable energy source,” he said.

He said the initiative would help reduce river pollution and environmental risks, while supporting sustainability efforts through more systematic waste management and green energy generation.

According to records from the Penang DOE, seven complaints related to water pollution and foul odour were received between 2024 and this year.

H’ng said field investigations and site inspections also found drains overgrown with aquatic weeds, which may have slowed water flow and contributed to foul odour issues.

The government is preparing a series of targeted policy responses to cushion the impact of rising global supply pressures, following concerns highlighted by the World Bank over escalating energy, fertiliser and food costs.

Speaking during the televised Global Supply Crisis Briefing, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) had discussed the World Bank’s assessment that current global pressures are occurring in overlapping waves, with rising commodity prices creating spillover effects on production costs and household living expenses.

According to the World Bank’s assessment, global price increases remain concentrated on key commodities, particularly fuel, fertiliser and food, which continue to place pressure on supply chains and operating costs.

World Bank had outlined four key priorities for Malaysia, namely ensuring energy security, strengthening fiscal space, managing energy demand and delivering targeted assistance to households and businesses most affected by the crisis.

The recommendations also stressed the importance of maintaining uninterrupted supply for critical goods and ensuring financing support for vulnerable supply chain players.

Akmal said, among the measures currently being coordinated are tighter controls on the export of certain fuel products, supply guarantees for essential goods, quota management for purchases, energy-saving initiatives and closer engagement with industry players.

Upper Padas Power Sdn Bhd has formally assumed control of the development grounds for the Ulu Padas Water Supply Scheme following the site handover ceremony.

The project is designed to meet the growing demand for treated water in Sabah’s west coast corridor, including Kota Kinabalu, Beaufort, Sipitang, and Kuala Penyu. With an ultimate design capacity of 950 million litres per day (MLD), the scheme leverages a “bolt-on” design with the existing Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project, optimising resources and minimising environmental impact.

This site handover ceremony marks the start of a 42-month journey to secure Sabah’s water future, designed to bridge the gap between urban and rural needs. Phase 1 of the SBAUP is scheduled for completion by end 2029, delivering a 350 MLD water treatment plant in Beaufort and over 200km of pipelines spanning Sipitang to Kota Kinabalu, to provide immediate relief and stability to the state’s water grid.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) believes yesterday’s sinkhole incident on Jalan Wangsa Delima 4, Wangsa Maju, may have been triggered by underground utility maintenance works rather than natural soil subsidence.

Mayor Fadlun Mak Ujud said investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause, while the affected stretch will remain closed for two weeks for repair works.

Initial inspections found that part of a “sump” wall within the area’s main 1.5-metre drainage system had likely collapsed.

“We found that the sump wall had broken, but we could not locate where the structure fell,” he said.

Fadlun said underground utility works using the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) method may have accidentally damaged the structure without visible signs on the surface.

He said the damage could have caused cracks in the drainage structure, allowing water to seep directly into the soil and eventually trigger the sinkhole.

The affected area measures about four metres in length, width and depth, he added.

Separately, Fadlun said another smaller sinkhole was detected yesterday near a bank along the pedestrian walkway on Jalan Tun Perak.

However, he clarified that the shallow hole, measuring about one foot deep, was not linked to utility-related issues.

Meanwhile, utility mapping works around Jalan Masjid India are nearly 90% complete, covering a 32km stretch. DBKL is expected to begin repairs on pedestrian walkways in the area in October and will install settlement markers at selected locations to monitor ground movement in real time.

The government is stepping up scrutiny on the remaining RM149 billion in unrealised data centre investments by filtering for high-quality industry players genuinely committed to operating in Malaysia.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said total data centre investment commitments pledged to the government have reached RM280 billion, but only RM131 billion have been realised so far.

“As such, this gap needs to be reassessed to identify industry players that are genuinely serious.

“This includes co-locator and hyperscaler companies that truly intend to operate in this country and require locations with specific security standards,” he said.

Johari said data centre projects require massive electricity and water resources, making careful screening and sustainable planning critical.

According to Tenaga Nasional Berhad records, Malaysia currently has 47 operational data centres, while another nine facilities remained under construction as of December 2025.

He said the government, through the Data Centre Task Force (DCTF), has introduced sustainability guidelines in line with Malaysia’s broader renewable energy push.

The guidelines include parameters on energy and water efficiency aimed at reducing environmental impact while improving operational performance.

Johari said operators are encouraged to adopt advanced energy-efficient technologies, including liquid cooling and immersion cooling systems, to replace conventional cooling methods and significantly improve energy efficiency.

The government is also exploring alternative water sources such as reclaimed water, seawater and other untreated water supplies to reduce reliance on treated water resources.