The public are important stakeholders of rivers such as Sungai Penchala near Ara Damansara. — Photos: ART CHEN/The Star
WATER is a resource that is often taken for granted in Malaysia.
People only realise how precious water is when a mass disruption to the supply causes them immeasurable distress.
Last Friday was World Water Day – a commemoration which likely went unnoticed by many.
This year’s World Water Day theme is “Water for Peace”.
StarMetro takes a look at efforts being implemented to safeguard our rivers.
Selangor initiatives
Public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said Selangor would implement the Zero Discharge Policy and Polluters Pay Principle for environmental protection.
These policies will be rolled out this year after getting the state executive council’s approval, she said, hence enabling Selangor to have a record of the amount of effluents being disposed.
“With these policies, we will have better records and understanding of what is happening at the ground level,” she said.
“The policy will cover not only the chemical industry but also industries requiring water usage,” she added.
Jamaliah said that under the Zero Discharge Policy, all businesses and premises were encouraged to minimise the discharge of effluents into water sources.
“A fee for effluent discharge is to be imposed based on the volume of effluents released. The higher the volume, the higher the fee.
“Indirectly, businesses will have to minimise effluent discharge, thereby helping to achieve the Zero Discharge Policy,” she said.
The Polluters Pay Principle, on the other hand, according to Jamaliah, encourages businesses to ensure that the effluents released comply with the established standards.
She said violations would incur a penalty based on the pollutant load.
Some 81% of drinking water is sourced from rivers. Pollution puts pressure on water treatment plants and increases treatment cost.
Local authorities’ role
Non-profit organisation Global Environment Centre (GEC) River Care Programme manager Dr Kalithasan Kailasam said there was still a misconception regarding roles and responsibilities concerning rivers.
“Water is the most powerful and important resource.
“Rivers globally are regarded as ‘national security’ and Malaysians must understand their importance,” he said.
Kalithasan noted that the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry together with the Economy Ministry, launched the Water Sector Transformation 2040 (WST 2040) plan in 2022 which aimed to make the water sector an economic source and Malaysia a global water hub by 2040.
“We aim to become the regional water industry hub − a research and development hub for the water sector in Asia,” he said.
But to achieve this end, local authorities must play a role in protecting drains and rivers, he emphasised.
“The local government is the most important and powerful authority when it comes to protecting rivers.
“Most effluents entering our rivers are discarded through drains,” he said.
“Water pollution results in water cuts and causes the community to suffer. There is economic loss too,” said Kalithasan.
“It is hazardous to health to be without clean water supply,” he said.
He cited Covid-19 as an example of a health hazard that disrupted human lives so tragically.
“Imagine running out of water because of heavy pollution.
“Hence, clean water becomes a national security issue that cannot be overlooked or given less attention or importance.”
National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Charles Santiago said the “Water for Peace” theme could be interpreted in many ways but ultimately, there should be mutual respect between people and the planet (water sources).
He said local councils and the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) must ensure water sources were protected.
“Rivers as a source provide 81% of our drinking water, but most of our rivers are polluted.
“When a river becomes highly toxic, it puts pressure on water treatment plants and this increases treatment cost.
“Local governments must play a role to check on factories to ensure the latter do not release effluents and pollute drains,” he said, adding that it was imperative to carry out site checks.
Drains, said Santiago, fell under the local government’s purview, hence they must see to it that factories engaged waste disposal firms while taking action against polluters.
He said the state government too could impose restrictions on errant waste disposal companies.
“At the moment, we have cases of sewage leaching into drains,” he pointed out.
Promote green lungs
Santiago also urged local governments to promote green lungs and protect areas near water catchment zones.
He said land developers were finding their way into green lungs near rivers for the development of new townships and to prevent this, local authorities must set strict guidelines.
“Greenwashing must stop,” he said, referring to how projects and services were falsely made to look environmentally-friendly when they were not.
“Greenwashing is partly responsible for climate-change problems.”
Rubbish flowing into the river is a hazard to marine life.
He said the local government’s role would have to go beyond approving developments.
“A different set of regulations is needed when the (proposed) land is close to forest or water catchment areas,” said Santiago.
“The rules cannot be the same for urban development and those near rivers or green spaces. More stringent regulations are a must.
“There are no neighbours to object to a development when a land, in a remote area, is near a river. This is when local authorities and KPKT step in to protect the environment,” he said.
Climate change
Santiago said climate change was a real phenomenon and the people were feeling the brunt of its effects, particularly with the current hot weather and temperature increase.
He suggested that local councils have a “climate change bureau” headed by the mayor or council president to present yearly environment sustainability reports.
The authorities including local councils must ensure factories discard effluents properly instead of dumping into rivers.
The report should indicate the conditions of lakes, green areas as well as recycling activities and related efforts being carried out to address climate change.
“This report should be made public. The authorities must not hide the report from the public by classifying it as ‘confidential’.
“Allow stakeholders, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and residents to look through the audit report and share their opinions,” he said.
“We are now at the ‘climate emergency’ stage, in my view,” said Santiago.
“We have to be prepared for the worst because disasters that have occurred seem to have worsened over the years,” he said.
“There needs to be long-term plans for the next 30 years,” he added.
