KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to set up the National River Protection Authority (NRPA) and make it part of the National Security Council, said Klang Member of Parliament Charles Santiago.
While welcoming the Federal and Selangor government's initiative to increase fines and involve the public in cleaning up polluted rivers on World Rivers Day, he said such a move was not enough.
"We need to think beyond the 'Friends of River' campaign because our rivers continue to be polluted despite 'clean river' initiatives over one and a half decades now.
"Today, the river is treated as a rubbish dump-site by industries and local communities. The variety of river pollution include: plastic waste, surgical face masks, e-waste, chemical, heavy metals and industrial waste, pharmaceutical waste, sewerage, effluents from life stock farms.
"River pollution is threatening our very existence. Rivers provide our drinking water and water for agriculture and industries. It provides habitat for a variety of animal and plant species, including fish," he said in a statement today.
The former National Water Service Commission (SPAN) chairman said in 2016, 200 tonnes of rubbish or municipal solid waste was dumped into rivers, drains, and waterways in the country on a monthly basis.
The 2017 Malaysian Environmental Quality Report suggests that the percentage of polluted rivers has increased and none of the monitored rivers have been categorised as clean, he said.
The growing instances of river pollution have impacted water supply in states such as Selangor, Johor and Penang, he added.
Santiago said water treatment plants had been forced to shut down due to river pollution resulting in huge losses in economic activity and social inconvenience to say the least.
"Rivers are under threat and need urgent protection. An increase in fines are necessary but not sufficient.
"It's time the government considers setting-up a National River Protection Authority, as a single authority in managing and coordinating river protection," he said.
He adds the agency could, as a first step, bring together the numerous federal agencies involved in river management under one roof.
The NRPA could provide a platform for improved coordination between federal and state agencies for river management as they remain fragmented.
Santiago said at the heart of the NRPA, is the creation of a buffer between both sides of the river and together with the river are classified as security zones monitored by enforcement agencies on a 24-7 basis.
"The aim of creating such a security space is to ensure that there is absolutely no encroachment into the river," he said.
The proposed agency could also work with the private sector to establish policies such as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme that holds manufacturers accountable for the end-of-life impacts of their plastic products and packaging. This will indirectly encourage the adoption of holistic eco-designs among the business sector and reduce plastic pollution in rivers, he said.
He adds while Malaysians take part in the federal and state government's clean river initiative, they need also to be made aware that the nation's rivers have rapidly deteriorated over the years.
"And the continued callous approach to river pollution management in the country puts us in serious trouble.
"So, it's imminent that we think laterally and look at all possible solutions to the existing issues.
"It's time to look at the pollution of our rivers as a national security issue.
"And what better day to start other than on World Rivers Day?" he asked.