Indah Water takes over in Kelantan

PETALING JAYA: Kelantan has transferred the management of the state’s sewerage system to Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd in a bid to provide the state with a more orderly and efficient sewerage system.

State-owned company Majaari Services Sdn Bhd, which was previously tasked with managing the state’s sewerage system, will hand over operations to Indah Water on Jan 1.

Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the handover was intended to standardise the operation of sewerage service throughout the country.

“This will also ensure wastewater is treated according to the highest standards, especially in efforts to conserve water resources and the environment, ” he said.

In the takeover, Indah Water will be tasked to maintain 33 public sewage treatment plants as well as 13 pumping stations in the state as well as provide desludging service to 81,275 individual septic tanks and 259,343 traditional tanks there.

It will also absorb Majaari’s staff, take ownership of desludging tankers and use its internal expertise to conduct regional sewerage system catchment studies for the next 30 years.

Tuan Ibrahim, in a statement, also said the change in service providers would allow the Federal Government to be more involved in modernising the sewerage system in Kelantan.

Additionally, he said plans were in the pipeline to develop a RM500mil sewage treatment plant in Tunjong under the 12th Malaysia Plan.

Tuan Ibrahim said funds would be channelled to repair dilapidated sewage plants and pipelines in Kelantan to ensure its people enjoy quality sewerage service.

“I am confident that with Indah Water’s expertise, as well as support from the ministry, the National Water Services Commission and the Department of Environment, efforts to modernise Kelantan’s sewerage system can be enhanced, ” he said.

Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob, who was at the signing ceremony to mark the handover, said the new deal would improve sewerage assets in the state while opening new opportunities for local contractors to work with Indah Water.

At the same ceremony, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Indah Water and Kelantan Utilities Mubaarakan Holdings Sdn Bhd to collaborate in planning matters such as providing technical services and conducting corporate social responsibility activities as well as implement a joint-billing system with Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd.