By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Nov 14 — The proposed Selangor Water Commission (SWC), designed to oversee and manage all forms of water resources in the state, is set to be established by the completion of the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2), said an aide to Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
Jay Jay Denis, Amirudin’s press secretary, said this move aligns with the state’s broader strategy to centralise the management of water resources, including sewage, under the jurisdiction of the SWC.
“While the transition will take time due to the complexity of the pipeline and waterway systems, we aim to have the commission up and running before or in line with the completion of RS-2,” he said during Selangor Journal’s Lunch On Us! talk show today.
The plan to establish the commission was first revealed by state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim in September. It will be the first-of-its-kind state agency to oversee all treated, raw and sewage water matters.
Jay Jay said the state is also considering taking over the Selangor chapter of the national sewerage company, Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd, as part of this initiative.
He said the initiative is also part of ongoing efforts to prevent water cuts, particularly those resulting from pollution and disruption in water treatment facilities.
[caption id="attachment_379056" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
State executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim (right) discusses new pumps with attendees of the Selangor Package B Raw Water Security Scheme project handover ceremony, held at the Rantau Panjang pump house, Kuala Selangor, on November 8, 2024. — Picture by MOHD KHAIRUL HELMY MOHD DIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Currently, Jay Jay said the state’s water reserves are vulnerable to external factors, such as pollution incidents that can block or contaminate rivers, affecting treatment plants.
However, the newly developed Raw Water Security Scheme (SJAM), which will soon be operational, is designed to mitigate such risks by quickly diverting clean water into treatment plants during crises.
“We hope SJAM will be fully operational by the end of this year. It will ensure that, even in the event of a water cut, we can quickly restore service by redirecting clean water into treatment facilities,” he said.
Jay Jay added that the push for SWC comes with a commitment to modernising the state’s water infrastructure, including replacing outdated pipes and expanding water treatment capacity.
“Our immediate priority is to boost the state’s water reserves to over 15 per cent, replacing old infrastructure and building more treatment plants. Once these foundational improvements are in place, we can realistically consider expanding our responsibilities under the SWC.”
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Jay Jay also highlighted the role of biotechnology and river sensors in early pollution detection, enabling quicker interventions. He added that the state is also looking towards strengthening pollution control measures, with plans to expand these initiatives in the coming year.
In addition to water management, Jay Jay said Selangor is also committed to addressing the longstanding issue of flooding, particularly in urban areas like the Klang Valley.
He assured that the state is working towards building more resilient cities, including through the upcoming Selangor Climate Change Policy, which is set to be launched by year-end.
The policy will outline concrete targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving flood management.
“The key to tackling floods lies in better town planning and drainage systems. Unfortunately, poor planning in past years has led to ineffective water management in some areas. We are committed to addressing these gaps,” he said.
