PUTRAJAYA, March 19 — An emergency will be declared if the temperature stays at 40 degrees Celcius for seven days straight, according to guidelines set by the newly-formed special heatwave taskforce.

Natural Resources and Environment minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar heads the multi-agency taskforce which was created during the Cabinet meeting yesterday.

At a press conference later, Wan Junaidi unveiled a four-tier alert system which specifies temperature thresholds, action to be taken and the agencies responsible.

He said during an emergency, the taskforce would send out advisories to ministries for action to be taken.

“The ministers have final say on what happens next,” he said, adding guidelines would also be issued to employers who have workers and contractors who worked outdoors.

Wan Junaidi said the taskforce had recommended all outdoor activity for school children and sports for adults be stopped when the temperature hits 37 degrees Celsius as that would increase the likelihood of heat exhaustion.

“Outdoor activities for schools will be rescheduled or cancelled depending on the situation,” he said.

“The same goes for workers employed outdoors as there have been reports of contractors fainting. We are working out a mechanism as to how employers would be informed and what outdoor activities should stop.”

The taskforce was expedited after the country had been engulfed by a heatwave as the El Nino phenomenon wreaks havoc worldwide.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said schools would be closed if the extreme heat and reduced rainfall continued.

“The prime minister has taken a personal interest in the issue and approved the taskforce and its jurisdiction,” Wan Junaidi said.

He said the taskforce would be a permanent fixture of the country’s disaster management system and would be activated as needed.

“The taskforce will operate on a four-phase action plan designed to incrementally address rising temperatures,” he said.

“At 37 degrees Celsius, the taskforce will begin monitoring weather trends, water levels at dams and other areas of interest. If the temperature persists, warnings will be issued.”

Wan Junaidi said the taskforce had been as inclusive as possible in order to cover every aspect of the heatwave, from the environment to agriculture.

“The threat posed by excessive heat is multifaceted and requires a unified response from the various agencies who make up the taskforce,” he said.

“The threat is not just on people but our biodiversity, forests and coral reefs as well.”

Wan Junaidi said the taskforce would also have the power to authorise cloud seeding.