This World Environment Day, Malaysia faces a grim reality: El Niño promises to be harsher than ever before. 2024 was already the hottest year in recorded human history, with temperatures up 1.55 °C. We are already experiencing 40 °C in our daily commutes in AC cars.
The last time El Niño hit Malaysia was in 2024 and 2016, when temperatures hit 37 °C.
Over 250 schools were closed, 100,000 children were sent home, 2 people died from heatstroke, and 45 were hospitalised. And the coming El Niño is expected to be worse.
50% of all coral reefs across Malaysia’s marine parks were bleached and died in a single season. These ecosystems that took centuries to build were all gone in months because the ocean got too warm.
El Niño disrupts weather patterns, resulting in droughts, water shortages, crop losses, haze from regional fires and pressure on food prices.
This is a public health issue, a food security issue and a cost-of-living issue. This is further compounded by the supply chain disruptions resulting in shortages of goods and oil price increases from the Iran-US-Israel conflict, burdening ordinary people.
The solution to this requires an all-of-government and society approach: increased use of public transportation, recycling, water and energy conservation, protections for sun-exposed and gig workers such as shade, water and rest breaks and prioritising water for farms and homes. – June 5, 2026
Charles Santiago is former Klang MP