The House of Commons passed the 2024 Water Supply Services Industry Amendment Bill yesterday, which includes new content authorizing courts to order the polluters of water sources to bear the costs of restoring affected water supply systems.
Following Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Water Transformation Datuk Seri Fadillah's conclusion of the policy and committee stage debate, the bill was passed by voice vote.
The amendments to the 2006 Water Supply Services Industry Act (Act 655) include modifying Section 121 to make it illegal for any individual to pollute water sources, resulting in the suspension or shutdown of water supply systems.
The bill also proposes increased penalties as preventive measures, considering the significant impact of water system pollution on users, and introduces a new clause (1A) under Section 61 of the bill, prohibiting the discharge of prohibited sewage and other substances into septic tanks.
Regarding water theft statistics, Fadillah said enforcement actions and investigations into 715 cases had been carried out under Section 123 of Act 655 from 2008 up to 2024.
“As of November, 100 cases had been prosecuted and convicted under Section 123(1), with total fines amounting to 1.5 million Ringgit.”
Fadillah said the Ministry of Energy recognizes the suggestions to enhance water and sewage treatment complaint channels, including setting up a task force under the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
He said SPAN has established an electronic complaint system related to water and sewage treatment matters, and the Ministry of Energy will consider suggestions to improve this complaint system to facilitate easier submission of complaints and prompt follow-up actions.