KLANG: State governments refusing to raise water tariffs need to provide a mechanism that will ensure that there won’t be a water crisis in the near future.
Water, Land and Natural Resources (KATS) Minister Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar said the ministry would discuss alternative mechanisms with states, such as Negri Sembilan, which had declined to hike water tariffs.
“However, we know which state is in a critical situation now.
“If we do not do anything in the next five years, the country will be faced with a water crisis.
“We will seek to overcome this through programes and plans which will be underlined in the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“If we do not begin from now onwards, there will be a crisis in the near future,” he told a press conference at the Restoration, Utilisation and Rehabilitation Programme through Tree Planting at the Taman Bandar Botanik water retention pond, here, today.
Dr Xavier was responding to the Negri Sembilan govt which had said on Saturday that it would not increase its water tariffs.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun had reportedly said that there would be no water tariff increase in the next five years.
Dr Xavier said most states were agreeable to the Federal Government’s move to raise water tariffs.
“Some states want to table it at their exco for approval and will announce itsoon.
“The states which have yet to implement, we will continue to hold discussions with them.
“When all the states are agreeable, then the implementation will take place this year,” he said, adding that all quarters must understand that the water industry required a huge budget to ensure that water was supplied nationwide on a 24-hour basis, year around.
“Now, we have very low water reserves in all states, including Selangor, Johor, Penang. Increasing the reserves involves a lot of capital expenditure,” he said.
Dr Xavier also said the ministry was aiming to plant 100 million trees, including Merbau, Keruing Neram, Meranti Melantai, Penaga Lilin, Bungor, Tampoi and Tualang nationwide in five years.
“This is part of KATS’s efforts to preserve and conserve the country’s forests as well as inculcate a sense of responsibility and love for the environment and promote national trees such as Merbau.
“Today, 140 trees out of 36 species of forest trees are planted around this area.
“Almost all the planted trees were exhibited at our Forest Exhibition between Aug 23 and Sept 22.
“It was officiated by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who declared the Merbau Tree (Palembanica Intsia) as a national tree,” he said.