MP suggests river protection agency, national security buffers

Klang MP Charles Santiago has proposed for the creation of a national river protection authority to stem further river pollution threatening the country's water supply.

He also suggested the creation of buffers along rivers to prevent certain activities and such areas should be considered as a matter of national security.

"The government must set up a national river protection authority with immediate effect.

"The outfit must then create a buffer of 300 to 400 metres, where business activities should not be allowed.

"Police and other enforcement authorities could be used to supervise the place with the help of CCTV and other technologies," he said in a statement.

The former National Water Services Commission chairperson added that the government should also look into enacting laws that severely punish companies that breach the buffer zone.

"By doing so, the state can protect the rivers from being abused by errant companies with a variety of pollution - plastic, e-waste, chemical, toxic, sewerage and rubbish, among others.

"Rivers and the buffer zone must be considered as national security, and the government needs to do so now," he added.

The DAP lawmaker said it was time to think and act differently after repeated water cuts in the Klang Valley due to river pollution.

He added that the proposal to increase fines on errant companies might not work due to corruption.

The Sungai Selangor Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3 and Rantau Panjang water treatment plants had to be closed down on Sept 3 after detecting pollutants in the water.

This is after pollutants were discharged into Sungai Gong which flows into Sungai Sembah and in turn feeds off Sungai Selangor.

Authorities have shut down a factory in Rawang which they suspect is responsible for the pollution.

The Selangor government has instructed the factory to be demolished. Authorities claim the heavy machinery maintenance factory is a repeat offender and was previously fined RM60,000.

Air Selangor restarted the water treatment plant at 10.30pm on Sept 5, and the distribution flow of water was resumed at noon yesterday.

It expects water supply to be fully restored by Sept 9.

The Klang Valley has seen at least five water cuts due to river pollution since 2019. - Mkini