A problem with water pollution is this: those who actively engage in polluting Malaysia’s water sources can routinely do so with impunity. Because environmental laws are wanting and rarely enforced vigorously enough. If the government in Johor has its way, however, this will change not just in the Malaysian state but in other states as well.
Let Hasni Mohammad, chairman of State Works at the Rural and Regional Development Committee in Johor, take it away: “In this country, there are many agencies responsible for water pollution, such as the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Johor Water Regulatory Body and the Department of Environment,” he was quoted as saying.
“However, laws related to water pollution offences and enforcement practised in those agencies differed from one another,” he added.
“For example, the [Department of Environment] defines polluted discharges as a pollutant that is contained in 10 parts per million (ppm) of water,” he explained.
“However, Bakaj’s enactment says that pollutants found in 1.5 parts per million (ppm) of water is considered to be polluted discharge,” he added. These laws have some weaknesses and they need to be improved.