All major rice-growing areas of peninsular Malaysia have disease problems which are related to poor water control and associated rice cropping practices. Generally, all the schemes experience low seasonal incidences of rice blast, bacterial blight and sheath blight. But recent epidemics of Penyakit Merah or tungro have emphasized the importance of the disease incurring losses amounting to $US3.7 million in the Muda Irrigation Scheme in 1983 alone.
Control measures developed to date include host-plant resistance, chemical control and appropriate cultural management. Surveillance programs for timely forecasting and control of epidemics have been implemented. Despite all these measures, outbreaks continue to occur.