KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 -- Malaysia's Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) issued a thunderstorm warning this evening covering wide swaths of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, cautioning residents to expect heavy rain, strong winds and lightning through 10.00 pm.

The alert, released at 6.25 pm, places the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya under the warning, along with seven districts in Selangor: Kuala Selangor, Klang, Gombak, Petaling, Kuala Langat, Hulu Langat and Sepang.

In Johor, the districts of Segamat, Kluang and Mersing are also affected.

In East Malaysia, the warning extends to multiple areas in Sarawak, including Sri Aman, parts of Kapit (Song and Bukit Mabong), Bintulu, and several localities in Miri and...