Frequent water cuts will drive away investors in Selangor, warns FMM

 

FMM says people and companies, already facing the challenges of Covid-19, are being burdened with water supply disruptions.

PETALING JAYA: The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Selangor & Kuala Lumpur has warned that the frequent water disruptions will undermine consumer and investor confidence in the state’s water management system.

Highlighting the four unscheduled water interruptions in the last two months, the federation said such disruptions will further burden the people and companies undergoing challenges because of the Covid-19 pandemic and will have an adverse impact on the economy.

“To move forward, the water supplier should incorporate more sophisticated technologies to manage the upstream water sources and supply network. The entire water supply chain should be upgraded and modernised to ensure any future contamination or potential disruption can be pre-empted.

“Without a holistic and modern water management system, the state will continue to experience disruptions in water supply,” said Jacob Lee, chairman of FMM’s Selangor and Kuala Lumpur branch.

A total of 1,196,457 Air Selangor user accounts in 1,292 areas in the Klang Valley experienced unscheduled supply disruptions yesterday after four water treatment plants were shut down following contamination of raw water sources in Sungai Selangor.

The plants have resumed operations and supply will resume in stages starting today.

Lee said water supply recovery should be prioritised to industrial areas because of their economic contribution. He called on the Selangor government to allow manufacturers to utilise underground water with a minimal fee to complement treated water supply.

Noting that the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) was amending the LUAS Enactment 1999 to increase the minimum fine of RM200,000 or not exceeding RM1 million, and a jail term of up to three years for those who cause river pollution in Selangor, Lee hoped the amendment will serve as a deterrent to potential polluters.

“FMM Selangor & Kuala Lumpur urges the residents and industries in Selangor to be responsible and not pollute the rivers as water supply is an essential utility for both.

“We also urge the state government to take immediate action to protect the water sources to ensure a constant water supply,” he said. - FMT