USJ Residents Reps Hand Over Memorandum to State Exco on Water Disruption Debacle

Yang Berhormat Tuan Hee Loy Sian

Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan (Exco)

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Alam Sekitar, Teknologi Hijau dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna

UNSCHEDULED WATER DISRUPTION DEBACLE

Date: January 20, 2020

This memorandum serves to advise the Selangor state government to resolve river water pollution once and for all.

2.0 We the residents of USJ 1 – USJ 22 Township had suffered from unscheduled water cuts on 3 occasions in 2019

2.1 The first water cut happened on June 20, 2019 and lasted for 2 days.

2.2 The second water supply stoppage accrued on September 28, 2019 and lasted for 3 days

2.3 Recently on December 21, 2019 third water cut disrupted our peace for 4 days.

3.0 USJ residents are indeed infuriated because we have suffered numerous unscheduled water disruptions since mid-2008 after the Selangor state government were ruled by the Pakatan Rakyat administration.

4.0 The 3 unscheduled water cuts of last year did not include several “Paip Pecah” incidences.

5.0 We the residence of USJ 1-USJ 22 township are deeply frustrated because we believe the 3 unpleasant episodes of suffering last year are due to : Apathy; Lack of willpower; No action plan; No intention to act against perpetrators; and People sleeping on the job.

6.0 We the residents of USJ1-USJ22 township hereby propose that the Selangor government:

Quickly install monitoring devices; seriously beef up enforcement; Increase the penalty for offenders; and immediately update land –use inventory.

7.0 We the residents of USJ1-USJ22 township wish to share the following information and suggestion:

Hotspot areas must be placed under constant surveillance especially during rainy season; to step up enforcement and monitoring of river banks and water catchment arrears; authorities such as Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) must be aware of hotspots where culprits dump toxic chemical wastes; during rainy season, factories tend dump mote illegal wastes into the river; if PBTs study the statistics, they will illustrate that these happenings are perennial; if the authorities monitor seriously, they can identify affected areas, the time frame of river pollution, the type of chemical found and identify the culprits easily; set –up a state-level committee or council for Water or River Protection; Make public the names of perpetrators or companies that dump waste into the rivers;  Shame them, Punish them; Environment Quality ACT 1974 to be repealed or replaced; and New Act must ensure greater enforcement powers and stiffer punishment to offenders.

8.0 Two (2) other incidences of unscheduled water disruption not mentioned earlier (because they did not affect USj residents) happened on JULY 19, 2019. It was due to lube oil spillage into Sg. Selangor.

The other unrelated incident happened on July 21, 2019. It was due to the spillage of 100 litters of Diesel into Sg. Selangor.

Yang Berhormat Tuan Hee Loy Sian, It is our earnest hope that the Pakatan Harapan state government of Selangor will finally get their act together to resolve the critical water issue before the next general election.

Thank you for your kind attention, Sir.

NASH A.HAMID

Chairman, Ad-hoc Task Force Committee, USJ1 – USJ22