Praise for PM’s move to address water issues

LOCAL non-governmental organisations are happy with the allocation to address water issues.

“The budget hits most of the nails right on the head,” said Dr Zaki Zainudin, associate professor in water quality and modelling at the Inter­national Islamic University Malaysia.

He said as a country poised for developed nation status, a sustainable and dependable water supply was a necessity.

“We can’t afford water rationing fiascoes. I think the Prime Minister realises this,” he said.

However, Dr Zaki said he was disappointed over the lack of direct allocations for environmental and water conservation.

“I hope to see it become a major part of the mooted National Water Blueprint and holistic river basin management plan,” he said.

It was important to have environmental sustainability and cost sa­­vings in the long run, he added.

Malaysia Water Association president Syed Mohamad Alhabshi praised the Prime Minister for allocating RM112mil to reduce non-re­venue water (NRW).

“The allocation is sufficient to start a strong holistic approach to NRW reduction,” he said.

He said the association also hoped that the water blueprint would bring about a sustainable tariff increase mechanism and improve supply reserves.

“With sufficient reserves, water rationing can be avoided and consumers will not have to suffer again,” he said.

However, Environmental Protec­tion Society Malaysia president Nithi Nesadurai believed that the breakdown in federal-state government relationships was a problem that must be resolved first.

“What’s the point of having the blueprint at the federal level and the state is free to do as it wants?” he said.

Nithi said demand for water re­­sour­ces must be managed properly.

“We must learn to achieve with as little as possible, and that’s where innovation and incentives come in,” he said.