IT has been raining almost every day in the Klang Valley in the past few days, but that has not stopped taps from running dry on two occassions in the past 48 hours.
On each occasion, more than a million households and businesses were affected. These unscheduled disruptions have everyone in the most-developed state in the country in a huff, with some even shouting “bloody sabotage” and describing Malaysia as still being a “Third World country”.
That suspicion was given credence today when Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Charles Santiago urged the police to investigate both incidents to ascertain if there was, indeed, sabotage.
It’s easy to cry sabotage to cover up the state’s lack of monitoring and enforcement, as well as the unwillingness of industries to invest in proper waste management systems.
A Selangor-owned mining company had earlier today said it had detected the source of the contamination that forced the shutdown of four water treatment plants yesterday.
Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) said it detected the source of the diesel spill near Kolam Hang Tuah in Sg Selangor yesterday, but did not specify whether the area in question was where it conducts mining activities. It, however, added it regrets the incident.
Try telling that to Klang Valley folks. To them, regrets alone are not enough. They want action and assurances that these incidents will not recur.
Water disruptions are already commonplace in the Klang Valley, where development projects are in full swing. Roads have to be dug up, water pipes have to be relaid, all of which cause disruptions.
But when other issues come into play – contamination, sand mining and, God forbid, sabotage – patience will definitely run thin.
One would have thought that the authorities had learnt their lesson from the three recent pollution incidents in the rivers of Pasir Gudang, Johor, which saw hundreds fall sick.
After the latest incident yesterday, pictures of how Singapore protects its raw water source – armed police guards at stationed at water treatment plants – have gone viral.
Here’s yet another lesson the guardians of our water can learn from their neighbours.
In the meantime, Klang Valley folks are urged to brace themselves for more of such inconveniences as, from the look of things, our authorities here don’t have a clue yet how to combat this menace. – July 22, 2019.
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Comments
Ah yes, tis the story of PH thus far, post 8.5.19.
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