Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the task force will draw-up action plans to handle the situation, including the possibility of closing schools temporarily.

“Considering that a heatwave has been declared, we will expedite the formation of this task force to get these preparatory measures in place.

“The task force will set thresholds such as at what outdoor temperature schools will be closed and how best to use the resources of the ministries involved,” he was quoted saying in Malay Mail Online.

According to him, the task force will also issue guidelines and safety measures on how the public can deal with the heatwave, with the view to making it a permanent fixture in the country’s disaster management system.

Wan Junaidi said the government would also monitor water levels at major dams nationwide, and play an “advisory role” to state governments, should they decide to implement water rationing.

According to him, it would be “reasonable to expect” temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, until May or June, due to the El Nino season.

Yesterday, deputy education minister P Kamalanathan acknowledged that the government would consider temporarily closing schools if the heatwave worsened.