KUALA LUMPUR — The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has issued a public health advisory following a hot weather alert by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) today, urging Malaysians to take precautions as temperatures soar across several states.
According to MetMalaysia’s 6:00 a.m. advisory, multiple areas across Kedah, Penang, Perak, Pahang, and Perlis are currently under Warning Level 1, with daily maximum temperatures ranging between 35°C and 37°C recorded for at least three consecutive days.
The situation is more severe in three districts in Kedah — Pokok Sena, Pendang, and Baling — which have been elevated to Warning Level 2, where temperatures have exceeded 37°C and may reach as high as 40°C over the same period.
MOH said continuous monitoring from January 1 to March 24 this year recorded 15 heat-related illness cases nationwide, comprising 11 cases of heat exhaustion, one case of heat cramps, and three cases of heatstroke.
All patients recovered except one — a child who died of heatstroke after being unknowingly left alone inside a vehicle by their parents.
“Hot weather can be harmful to human health, with heat-related illnesses ranging from mild to severe and potentially fatal,” the ministry said.
Symptoms include headaches, fatigue, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, muscle weakness or cramps, and nausea. In severe cases, individuals may suffer dehydration, confusion, loss of consciousness, or fall into a coma.
MOH warned that while anyone exposed to prolonged heat can fall ill, certain groups face significantly higher risks — including infants, children, the elderly, individuals with chronic illnesses, and outdoor workers.
The ministry called on the public to avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., drink at least eight glasses of plain water daily, and refrain from leaving children unattended in parked vehicles.
It also advised frequent bathing, wearing light-coloured and loose clothing, limiting strenuous physical activity, and using fans or air conditioning where possible.
Beyond individual precautions, MOH called on government agencies, schools, elderly care centres, and childcare facilities to implement the government’s recommended preventive measures to curb heat-related incidents.
Members of the public can monitor the latest hot weather status on the MetMalaysia website and access MOH’s heat health guidelines at the ministry’s official health information portal. —Bernama
