Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said cloud seeding will depend on suitable cloud conditions during the September 3 to 5 window. — Bernama pic By Malay Mail First Published: Monday, 31 Aug 2026 2:01 PM MYT KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 — Sarawak will carry out cloud seeding from September 3 to 5 as authorities grapple with worsening haze and critically low reservoir levels that have already forced four water treatment plants to stop operating.According to Harian Metro, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) expected conditions to be suitable for the operation during the three-day window.He said officials would meet tomorrow to determine how the operation would be carried out, with Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) dams to be given priority because of their importance to the state’s electricity supply.“After that, we will move on to water reservoirs where levels have already fallen very low, followed by other areas in need,” he was quoted as saying after a meeting of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee in Kuching today.Uggah, who chairs the committee, said the Rural Water Supply Department had reported that four water treatment plants had been forced to suspend operations because reservoir levels had fallen too low.The affected plants are in Simunjan in Samarahan Division, Lingga in Sri Aman, Spaoh in Betong and Lichok in Roban.He said the four areas would be among those prioritised for cloud seeding if weather conditions allowed.Uggah cautioned, however, that cloud seeding could not simply be carried out on demand because the operation requires suitable cloud formations.“If there are no clouds, the conditions are not suitable for cloud seeding. It is not that we do not want to do it, but if an aircraft is sent up without producing any results, it would only be a waste of money and the people would become even angrier,” he said.Sarawak carried out two cloud-seeding operations in May and June after SEB warned that water levels at its dams had reached worrying levels.The planned operation comes as the state also contends with severe haze.Uggah said Air Pollutant Index readings at 10am today showed seven locations in the hazardous category, led by Serian at 475.Tebedu recorded 402, Lubok Antu 375, Lundu 363, Samarahan 333, Kuching 331 and Sri Aman 331.Sarikei, Sibu and Mukah were in the very unhealthy range, while another eight locations recorded unhealthy air quality.Uggah said the disaster management committee was continuing to monitor the haze with the Department of Environment and Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board, including smoke from fires in Kalimantan being carried into the state by prevailing winds.He said Sarawak recorded nine hotspots on both August 29 and 30, while Kalimantan recorded 1,180 hotspots and Sumatra 18 on August 29.Sarawak recorded 302 hotspots between January and August 30, including 186 in August alone.