Sewage Treatment Contractors Reminded To Do Quality Work

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water on Friday reminded contractors carrying out sewage treatment jobs to keep up with quality work or face legal action.

Its minister, Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui said many reports had been received on shoddy works such as leaking pipes which have caused much discomfort to the people and damage to property.

"We will not hesitate to take action in accordance with the existing laws such as imposing fines or taking back their licenses," he told a press conference following a visit to the Pantai Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) here today.

Initiatives To Improve Rural Basic Infrastructure

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Following are the highlights of the Government's Transformation Programme to improve basic rural infrastructures this year.

* To build 210km of new paved roads in Peninsular, 192km in Sabah and 145km in Sarawak;


* To provide new or restored houses for 5,819 poor and hardcore poor in Peninsular, 4,988 in Sabah and 5,819 in Sarawak;


* To increase the percentage of houses with access to electricity from 99 per cent to 99.6 per cent in Peninsular, from 67 per cent to 72.6 per cent in Sarawak and from 77 per cent to 80.8 per cent in Sabah; and,


* To increase the number of houses with access to clean or treated water from 89 per cent to 91.8 per cent in Peninsular, from 57 per cent to 62.1 per cent in Sarawak and from 57 per cent to 58.7 per cent in Sabah.

Rainwater harvesting could be made compulsory

PUTRAJAYA: All buildings, including houses, may be required to install a system to catch rainwater.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui said the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and the Housing and Local Government Ministry were considering making it compulsory for all buildings to have a rainwater harvesting system.

"I cannot say when exactly as we are still studying its implementation. We plan to incorporate this into the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 Act.

"This is necessary as Malay-sians waste a lot of treated water," he said after the ministry's monthly assembly here yesterday.

Rehda Asked To Implement Housing Projects With Rainwater Catchment System

 

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) has been asked to stress on environmental preservation by ensuring that housing projects carried out by its members are equipped with a rainwater catchment system.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui said the request was in line with the ministry's ongoing water saving campaign.

"Currently, on average Malaysians are using 205 litres of water daily, surpassing both the standard daily water consumption stipulated by the United Nations and the ministry at 165 litres and 175 litres, respectively."

He said this after holding a meeting with the ministry's staff and launching its "One Cubic Metre Info Box", here today.

Chin said the ministry would also convene a meeting with the Housing and Local Government Ministry and the National Water Services Commission to fine- tune several matters pertaining to the water saving campaign.

"We will also look into the possibility of amending the Uniform Building By-Laws to compel each building to have a rainwater catchment facility.

Krisis air tahun ini

AMPANG - Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN) meramalkan akan berlaku krisis air pada tahun ini berikutan beberapa tanda awal kemarau yang semakin jelas di seluruh negara sejak akhir-akhir ini.

Ketua Penguatkuasaan Hal Ehwal Pengguna SPAN, Ashwar Abd. Aziz berkata, pihaknya telah menerima beberapa aduan dari beberapa negeri yang sudah mula mengalami masalah kekurangan bekalan air yang kritikal.

Selesai segera isu penyusunan air

PANTAI BAHARU – Kerajaan Pusat dan Negeri digesa mempercepatkan proses penyusunan semula mengenai konsesi air di negeri ini bagi membolehkan operasi penggantian paip lama diteruskan.

Pengerusi Institut Keselamatan Pekerjaan dan Kesihatan Negara (NIOSH), Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye berkata, operasi penggantian paip lama berkenaan perlu diteruskan bagi menjamin kualiti air bersih kepada rakyat negeri ini.

RM2.1 Billion For Rural Basic Infrastructures In Sabah And Sarawak

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- The Rural and Regional Development Ministry will spend about RM2.1 billion to provide rural basic infrastructures in Sabah and Sarawak under the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) this year.

Its Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, said the allocation also involved the completion of last year's projects to build new roads and provide water and electricity supply.

Of the total, he said, about RM928 million would be allocated to Sabah and RM1.2 million for rural areas in Sarawak.

Water Tariff Review For Sarawak Yet: Awang Tengah

SIBU, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- The state government has no plans at the moment to review the current water tariff although there have been requests for it.

Second planning and Resource Management Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this was because it had no intention to add to the burden of the people in the face of the economic meltdown.

"Ours is a people-oriented government, we are living uo to the 1Malaysia slogan of 'People First, Performance Now," he said at the annual meeting of the Sibu Water Board here Thursday night.
Awang Tengah said the last review was done in 1992 for local water supply authorities and in 1982 for the water supply division of the Public works Department.

Court To Decide On MTUC Application For Water Privatisation Documents On April 2

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- The High Court here fixed April 2, to give its decision on the application by Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and 13 others to challenge the energy, water and communications minister's decision to deny a request to make public, documents relating to water privatisation.

Judge Datuk Mohamed Apandi Ali, who heard the case management in his chambers Tuesday, also ordered parties to submit their written submissions, before March 23.

Water makes the world go round

JAN 21 — Today is a school day, so all across the country many children attending public schools would be consuming unsafe drinking water or getting dehydrated. In our government schools, usually, piped water in the restrooms and the odd tap by the field are the only sources of free water.

The long-term implications — in personal health and obesity — will play out in time. The moral examination of us — the adults/taxpayers — to let the problem persist so long will not be pretty reading.
Despite the shocking willingness of the Ministry of Education to invest in physical constructs — which incidentally are constructed through the process of government tender, and please do read between the lines — there is no or very little in the way of funding for the installation and maintenance of water fountains/dispensers in schools. I’ll argue readily that water comes before air-conditioned halls, quickly-obsolete computer labs and teachers’ dining rooms.