KUALA LUMPUR: Amendments to Malaysia’s Water Services Industry Act 2006 are set to strengthen the regulation of the water services sector, addressing critical issues such as contamination and supply disruptions, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof announced. Fadillah, who also serves as the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, emphasized the necessity of these changes to ensure the act’s continued relevance and effectiveness in meeting future demands.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the proposed amendments, introduced during the second reading of the Water Services Industry (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Dewan Rakyat, aim to update and expand existing provisions. The focus is on enhancing penalties and establishing new offences to combat frequent incidents of water source contamination. The amendments include allowing courts to mandate that polluters cover the costs of restoring the water supply system.

The bill seeks to modify Section 121 of Act 655, criminalizing the contaminat
ion of water sources that results in temporary cessation or closure of the water supply system. Additional changes propose increased penalties to deter contamination and introduce a new subsection under Section 61, prohibiting the discharge of prohibited effluents and other substances into septic tanks. These measures reflect the significant impact that water supply system contamination has on users, underscoring the importance of preventive legislation.