The National Water Commission (Span) has urged the Kedah and federal government to declare Sungai Muda a "strategic river".
Its chairperson Charles Santiago proposed several measures including cordoning off 30m on both sides of the river, installing CCTV and posting security guards to protect it.
"This has become a security issue. We have to make sure that the water is protected, that no one has access to dump illegal wastes in or near the river," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.
"The National River Protection Authority should step in as this has become an utterly urgent matter.
"We risk being poisoned as the river may be contaminated by the illegal waste," he added.
"The problem has become a part of society as you and I have to pay for the mess and disaster," he stressed.
Yesterday, Santiago called for urgent action against a massive illegal dumpsite in Kedah, which risks contaminating drinking water for people in Penang and Kedah.
Santiago was alerted by an anonymous source about the site and proceeded to visit the area this morning.
He visited the area in question at Kampung Belinda, Baling, which is situated 20km from Sungai Petani.
His delegation involved representatives from the Department of Environment, and Solid Waste Corp (which is under the Local Government and Housing Ministry).
They inspected three acres of an illegal dumpsite, which is 5m deep.
It was previously a sand mine but has now become a landfill full of electronics, plastic, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and industrial wastes from Japan, the United States, and Poland, among others.
They were all packed but scattered around an area covering the size of half a football field.
Santiago said there are more such illegal dumping sites.
"I was stumped to see the site as it was only 30m away from the Sungai Muda river, the main source of water for Penang, and 50,000 farmers in Kedah and Perlis," Santiago said.
"The water may be poisoned, and there is a danger of it containing heavy metals," added the DAP Klang MP.
"With the river polluted, the people's health is compromised, so are our water and food. This calls for national attention.
"The area is a mess, it's a disaster waiting to happen," Santiago said.
He urged the state and federal government to come down hard on the culprits responsible for the illegal dump.
"There is to be no more compromise from the authorities.
"The land should be confiscated and sealed off, there should be no more such activities going on there," he added. - Mkini
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