‘Place water services under National Security Council’
KUALA LUMPUR: The recurring river pollution incidents that is causing frequent disruptions to water supply calls for more stringent policies to protect raw water resources.
According to Global Environment Centre chairman Dr K. Kalithasan, it is time the government placed water under the purview of the National Security Council as it is considered an essential resource.
He said that 97% of the nation’s water supply comes from rivers and as such, more stringent laws are required as the recurring incidents are no longer a small agenda.
Kalithasan said water cuts due to contamination should not be viewed as a “state-level local issue” because it affects the daily lives of people.
He also said that the authorities should not let polluters off lightly as it would not serve as an effective deterrent. “For them, paying a RM60,000 compound isn’t a problem.”
He calls for more severe penalties, including holding the accused liable for the cost of cleaning up a contaminated river.
“Currently, taxpayers’ money is used to clean up polluted rivers.”
Kalithasan urged the government to consider mobilising the Malaysian Volunteer Corps Department (Rela) to monitor industrial waste dumping. “Rela members can act as the ‘eyes’ of environmental agencies and help monitor our rivers,” he said.
The Department of Irrigation and Drainage River Basin division director Md Khairi Selamat said its monthly bill for cleaning up rivers nationwide is about RM500,000. – Bernama