KANGAR, Jan 27 — The northern region, especially Perlis, has been experiencing the coldest temperatures in recent years due to cold winds from the northeast monsoon.

A check by The Malay Mail yesterday found the situation in Chuping was a far cry from its reputation for being the hottest Malaysian state with a temperature of 40.1°C recorded in 1998.

Despite the lowest temperature recorded yesterday at 22°C, the locals were undeterred by the biting cold and continued with their daily routine. However, many were clad in heavy warm clothing such as windbreakers.

According to locals, it was the coldest January in the last decade.

Food stall operator-cum-farmer Rustum Talib, 42, described the biting cold as the worst in the last 20 years.

“Although there was no rain, the pool of cold air swept across Chuping daily in the morning until 10am and between 5pm and 7pm.

“This phenomenon is rare because from December until March, the rainy season is supposed to be subsiding to a hotter climate.

“Due to the strong winds with the lowest temperature at 25°C, we had to bring extra clothing outdoors,” he said, adding that the temperature shot up to 35°C in the afternoon.

Rustum also complained that the unusually cool weather had an impact on rice crop.

“The rice harvest produced is not of good quality compared to previous years.

“This is because it flowered early because of lower temperatures that had affected the fertilisation, thus causing the empty rice husks,” he said.

Postgraduate student Nurul Shuhaida Abdul Rahim, 28, said it was her first time experiencing  a cold January in the past seven years.

“The unusually cold weather began some two weeks back and the wind is especially strong in the evening,” said Nurul, from Kelantan.

The Malay Mail observed that strong winds lasted few hours until 11am before the heat sinks in.

In Kangar and Arau, many were seen using umbrellas or resorting to hats to shield them from the extreme weather changes, particularly the scorching hot sun at noon.

Forecast by the Meteorological Department is that Chuping will experience temperatures of between 22°C and 32°C with no rain.

In other northern regions, the temperature in Alor Star is forecast to be between 21°C and 32°C, while in George Town, the temperature will be between 24°C and 32°C.