The Federal government has agreed to allocate RM800 million as immediate assistance to address water supply disruption issues in Kelantan and Sabah, which is part of the total cost amounting to RM5 billion, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The government will initiate measures to reform the nationwide water industry model to be more sustainable and holistic, as issues related to non-revenue water (NRW) in several states continue to present challenges to the efficient supply of water to the people.
“In the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), the government has committed to allocating almost RM22 billion for flood mitigation projects. This significant funding to address the people’s problems justifies the need for the government to manage water and flood issues in a holistic and integrated manner.
“The government will also continue to explore suitable locations for groundwater abstraction through the construction of additional tube wells and underground reservoirs,” he said when tabling the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) 2021-2025 in Parliament today.
Through the Takungan Air Pinggiran Sungai (Taps) project, efforts will be increased to provide sufficient raw water, ensuring a dependable and safe clean water supply in line with the Water Sector Transformation Agenda 2040.
Anwar said Acts concerning water source pollution and the water services industry will be reviewed to establish appropriate penalties for irresponsible parties releasing polluted waste into rivers, thus ensuring the sustainability of clean water sources and services for the people.
In light of the frequent floods and landslides, the Prime Minister noted the establishment of the National Geology Disaster Centre by year-end will monitor the effectiveness of early warning systems for tsunamis, floods, and landslides. This will improve disaster response efficiency and ensure people’s safety.
He said the National Disaster Management Policy under the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) will be reviewed to strengthen preparedness and enhance disaster management capabilities.
