M'sian state declares water crisis

Malaysia's Negeri Sembilan declared a water crisis yesterday over a dry spell that has parched much of the normally rain-bathed country.

Deputy water minister Mahdzir Khalid said on Tuesday that the government was planning to carry out cloud seeding over the capital Kuala Lumpur and its surroundings, where water reserve levels have been critical since last week, AFP reported.

Negeri Sembilan shares its water supply with the capital and Selangor.

"We have not had any rain here over the past two months, and this has caused water levels at our seven dams to reach critical levels," Negeri Sembilan chief minister Mohamad Hasan was quoted by Malaysia's The Star as saying.

Natural disaster officials in the state will begin to supply treated water to about 8,000 households, where taps have run dry, he said.