KUALA LUMPUR: Some companies are leaving Malaysia due to inadequate water resources, says National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Charles Santiago.
He said this when urging the country to view the access to water from a national security lens, especially in facing the uncertainties of climate change.
“Time is running out in the face of extreme weather conditions,” he added.
He, however, did not elaborate on his claim about such action taken by those companies.
Santiago said only when the country adopts that view will the water sector get the highest priority in government planning and resource allocation.
He noted that Budget 2024 has allocated RM1.1bil only for infrastructure development in Sabah, Labuan and Kelantan whereas the building of five littoral combat naval ships cost RM11.9bil despite the country not being at war.
“If the water sector gets a thumping RM11.9bil, tremendous gains to reduce non-revenue water, push towards reclaimed water, cleaning of rivers and development of other infrastructure can be achieved.
“Sufficient water availability can be a major attraction for new businesses such as data centres,” said Santiago when delivering a speech at the Water and Water Resources Forum 2023 at the Indah Water headquarters here on Thursday.
