People should have access to affordable clean water – CM
KOTA KINABALU: Water is crucial to all aspects of human life. In fact, water and sanitation cross-cuts other levers of sustainable development such as the right to health, right to be free from poverty, and the right to rights to peace.
“Simply put, without safe drinking water and sanitation, one would most likely fall ill and perish. Water-related diseases are also prevalent in communities without effective access to safe drinking water and sanitation," said Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman.
Not only must there be access to safe drinking water and sanitation to remain healthy, safe drinking water and sanitation must also be affordable (if it is not provided without charge), adequate and of quality, Musa in his keynote address at the ‘Regional Consultation on the Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation in ASEAN (with emphasis on rural communities)" organised by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in Karambunai here yesterday.
The keynote address was delivered by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah.
Musa pointed out that Article 28(e) of the AHRD has expressly affirmed that the right to safe drinking water and sanitation is inextricably linked to the right to an adequate standard of living for human beings.
It is also a pre-requisite to realise other human rights, he said, adding that underpinning the right to safe drinking water and sanitation are the core rights principles of universality, nondiscrimination and equality.
“Only with these key rights elements will we then be able to build a sustainable and resilient ASEAN community. I would also be remiss if I neglect to emphasise that we must ensure that the most vulnerable groups of our societies such as women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, the indigenous, migrant workers, asylum-seekers and refugees are able to enjoy the right to safe drinking water and sanitation," he said.
He also said that there are many times that those who live in urban and developed areas by accident and not by design take access to safe drinking water and sanitation for granted.
“Life is much tougher for rural communities in terms of enjoying and accessing the basic necessities such as safe drinking water and sanitation," he stressed.
The Chief Minister disclosed that credible reports have suggested that the root of water crises is not about the shortages of physical supply, but are traced to poverty, inequality and unequal power relationships, as well as water management policies that exacerbate scarcity.
“In the 21st century, unclean water is the world’s second biggest killer of children. Meanwhile, illhealth associated with deficits in water and sanitation undermines productivity and economic growth, reinforcing the deep inequalities that characterize current patterns of globalisation and trapping vulnerable households in cycles of poverty.
“In addressing this issue in Sabah, we have implemented strategies that are in line with the Malaysian National Water Resources Policy towards ensuring that the demand for water throughout the state is met in terms of quantity and quality for both man and nature.
“The strategy provides a platform to streamline practices and approaches for the preparation of water resources conservation plans as well as to build the capacity of all stakeholders to increase good governance in the management of water resources," he said.
According to him, with the rapid development of ASEAN’s economy, the demand for water and sanitation has also significantly increased leading to uncertain and limited supplies of the same.
“In this respect therefore, I urge the AICHR to accelerate its work programmes to inspire the region by infusing into ASEAN’s framework a common set of human rights principles and good practices in handling the competing demands and needs, especially for those in the rural communities.
“In order to realise an ASEAN Community that is people-centred, people-oriented and socially responsible, we need to do more to fully realise Article 28(e) of the AHRD," he stressed, adding that the exercise would involve all stakeholders from multiple sectors under the three ASEAN pillars such as the AICHR, the Senior Officials Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (SOMRDPE), the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN), the ASEAN Working Group on Water Resources Management (AWGWRM), and the Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development (SOMHD).