‘Water crisis a real global phenomenon’

KUALA KANGSAR: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah said yesterday that the current water crisis was no fiction but a real global phenomenon.

The ruler said it had been forecasted that competition and struggle for water resources might be the cause of wars in the future.

“The people need to realise that insufficient supply of water may trigger a crisis as water is the most basic need of life and onefifth of the world’s population reportedly do not get access to drinkable water.

“Recently, several areas in this country also faced a water shortage crisis until water rationing had to be carried out,” he said when launching the Kampung Senawar Water Treat Plant, here, yesterday.

Sultan Nazrin said in the effort to minimise the impact of a disaster, proactive, strategic and well-planned measures were required, including protecting and conserving water resources as well as the water catchment areas by ensuring a sustainable environment.

He said that other initiatives that needed to be implemented were integrated water resource management, upgrading of existing water systems through pioneering new technology as well as diversifying water resources by exploring alternative sources, including the potential of groundwater and rainwater harvesting.

Accompanying the Sultan to the launch was Raja Permaisuri Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim.

Also present were the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa; Raja Puan Besar Perak, Raja Nor Mahani Raja Shahar Shah; Raja Di-Hilir Perak, Raja Iskandar Dzulkarnian Sultan Idris; Raja Puan Muda Perak, Tunku Soraya Sultan Abdul Halim and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. — Bernama