PUTRAJAYA, April 3 -- Malaysia is now in the monsoon transition phase, from March 29 until May, with heavy rain and strong winds expected over short periods, thus bringing relief from the hot weather phenomenon that has hit the country of late, said Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup.

He said the current hot weather phenomenon is an annual occurrence that usually begins towards the end of the Northeast Monsoon season until June, due to reduced cloud cover, particularly in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia.

"The arrival of the monsoon transition phase is expected to bring more frequent heavy rain and strong winds over short periods, particularly in the afternoon to early e...