The party’s deputy youth chief, Ammar Atan, said there is a need to implement a mechanism to assist the people, especially young children, in coping with the heat in greater comfort.

“I am confident Tenaga Nasional Bhd and the government can consider this special electricity bill discount proposal. This mechanism can be implemented during each heat wave,” he said in a statement.

Last Monday, TNB said the rising temperature had increased electricity usage nationwide, with some areas experiencing more than a 10% surge in January and February.

“Areas with the highest rise in energy consumption were in the northern states and certain other areas in Peninsular Malaysia, with peak usage reaching 19,200 megawatts (MW) on March 7.

“Domestic customers are likely to use more electricity to cool down during the start of the Level 1 heat wave following the weather alert issued in February by MetMalaysia,” it said.

Since March 19, the meteorological department has issued heat wave alerts in several states, with maximum temperatures ranging between 37°C and 40°C. It had also forecast dry and hot weather, with temperatures exceeding 35°C in most regions, throughout the month.

Reports indicate that raw water storage reserves at four dams in Johor, Penang, and Kedah have dwindled to critical levels due to the scorching heat.

Meanwhile, health director-general Dr Radzi Abu Hassan said 28 heat-related cases were recorded as of March 25. Among these cases, 19 were due to heat exhaustion, while nine were heat strokes.

One death due to heat stroke was reported at Sultan Ahmad Shah Hospital, Temerloh, Pahang, involving a 22-year-old man.