SHAH ALAM, May 12 — State executive councillor for public health and environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said certain agencies have been ordered to submit reports on causes of river pollution and told to recommend comprehensive solutions.
She added that close inter-agency cooperation is important to ensure river conservation efforts are effective and systematic, and present long-term impacts to the public.
“Integrated actions and continuous monitoring is highly necessary so this longstanding problem can be wholly addressed.
“I also asked each agency to prepare reports including lists of licensed and unlicensed industries, factors that could cause pollution, and recommended actions under their respective scopes of jurisdiction,” she said in a Facebook post today.
Earlier, Jamaliah visited the Integrated Investigation Site for Pollution in Sungai Buloh in Sasaran, Jeram, with representatives from various agencies, including the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS), Environment Department (DOE), Kuala Selangor Municipal Council (MPKS), Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS), and area councillors.
She said her visit was aimed at finding out the cause of pollution in the river, whose waters are reportedly black and smelly.
She urged relevant agencies not to take river pollution lightly and instead resolve each incident as soon as possible as it directly affects the environment, water resources, and residents’ well-being.
“Among matters brought up at the meeting were industrial activity monitoring, effluent discharge, drainage conditions, river sediment, and earth embankments that could contribute to pollution.
“Clean and conserved rivers are important assets to the community and future generations,” Jamaliah said.
