PROPOSED GROUNDWATER RESERVOIR, WATER SUPPLY ISSUES DOMINATE DEWAN NEGARA DEBATE

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The climate change phenomenon, particularly issues involving flood management and clean water supply, dominated the Dewan Negara debate today, with eight senators raising concerns during the second day of deliberations on the Supply (Budget) Bill 2026.

Senator Datuk Salehuddin Saidin urged the government to explore the use of groundwater reservoir technology as a long-term measure to mitigate recurring floods, while also proposing that excess rainwater be harnessed as an additional source of water supply and irrigation during prolonged dry spells.

He said the approach, which had previously been implemented in Sydney, Australia, to address recurrent flooding, and was later developed into a source of drinking water and agricultural use, should be studied as a strategic model for states frequently affected by floods, such as Kelantan, Terengganu and Selangor.

“It will certainly involve significant costs. However, when we consider the annual losses caused by floods - such as the RM3.1 billion recorded in Selangor in 2021 alone, and recurring nationwide flood losses amounting to RM100 million each year - the investment required to develop such a reservoir system would be far more worthwhile in the long term,” he said.

Citing the success of the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART), he said that it is time for the government to adopt larger-scale solutions for the nation’s long-term benefit, especially as climate change continues to bring unpredictable rainfall patterns and increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

Salehuddin stressed that the government must act swiftly by implementing pilot projects in strategic locations, noting that floods today not only destroy property, but also disrupt productivity, impact community well-being and hinder economic activity, particularly in major urban areas.

Meanwhile, Senator Datuk Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli raised concerns over ongoing water supply disruptions in several states, including Selangor, Sabah and Sarawak.

He said the government must provide clear assurances that water supply services will be improved, while also prioritising the use of groundwater sources, which are more sustainable, cleaner, cheaper to treat and more stable, compared with surface water sources.

Senator Datuk Anna Belle @ Suzieana Perian also drew attention to the issue of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in Sabah, where nearly 57 per cent of treated water is lost, due to ageing pipelines dating back to the 1990s. This, she noted, is among the highest rates in Southeast Asia, compared with about 25 per cent in Sarawak and around 33 per cent in Peninsular Malaysia.

According to her, extensive pipeline leakages have severely affected access to clean water, underscoring the need for structural reforms encompassing repair systems, treatment plant upgrades and improved governance.

She noted that the federal government has allocated RM1 billion, the largest investment in Sabah’s water sector to date, which includes the replacement of about 400 kilometres of pipes in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Putatan, Sandakan and Tawau.

Meanwhile, Senator Azahar Hassan urged the government to accelerate the delivery of assistance to all flood victims, regardless of whether they relocate to temporary relief centres (PPS) or choose to remain in their homes, noting that both groups suffer significant losses.

The Dewan Negara sitting continues tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA