Malaysia: Water levels at Johor dams still critical

ZAZALI MUSA The Star 4 Nov 15;

JOHOR BARU: Water levels at the Sungai Layang and the Sungai Lebam dams remain critical although heavy rain was recorded in several parts of south Johor.

This is because cloud seeding operations conducted from Oct 12 to 31 failed to bring rain to areas near the two dams.

According to SAJ Holidngs Sdn Bhd (SAJ) corporate communications head Jamaluddin Jamil, no rain was recorded over the Sungai Layang and Sungai Lebam dams.

“Hopefully, the authorities will ex­tend cloud seeding in view of the critical water levels at the two dams,’’ he said when contacted.

Jamaluddin said the water level at the Sungai Layang dam had dropped to 19.42m (critical level) from 23.50m while the Sungai Lebam dam had gone down to 8.42m from 12.27 on Oct 29.

The Sungai Layang dam supplies water to 580,000 consumers in Pasir Gudang and Masai, mostly industrial users and several parts of Johor Baru.

The Sungai Lebam dam in Kota Tinggi, channels water to about 66,496 users in Mukim Tanjung Surat, Mukim Pantai Timur, Mukim Pengerang and parts of Kota Tinggi.

“As the water level is still critical, we have decided to extend the scheduled water rationing (SWR),” said Jamaluddin.

The SWR has been extended until Nov 15, affecting thousands of users in several parts of Johor Baru, Masai, Pasir Gudang and Pengerang in Kota Tinggi.

Johor PKR deputy chairman Jimmy Phua Wee Tse said this was the first time thousands of residents in the southern parts of Johor were facing water supply issues.

Phua said he wanted to know whether the development of the multi-billion ringgit Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex in Kota Tinggi was the main reason for the water crisis.


12 water firms pledge to work together during crisis
MAZWIN NIK ANIS The Star 4 Nov 15;

PUTRAJAYA: Twelve water concessionaires nationwide have come together, pledging to share water supply, manpower and equipment to help consumers during a crisis.

The concessionaires – along with the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) – have come together to formalise their cooperation during crisis such as floods, drought and others.

They are SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd (Johor), Syarikat Air Darul Aman Sdn Bhd (Sada), Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd, Jabatan Bekalan Air Labuan, Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad, Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan Sdn Bhd, Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang, Pengurusan Air Pahang, Lembaga Air Perak, Jabatan Kerja Raya Perlis, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) and Syarikat Air Terengganu Sdn Bhd.

Yesterday, the companies inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will see them helping one another not just in the form of supplying clean water but in manpower and equipment such as lorries, static tanks and portable generators.

Under the agreement, the concessionaires also agreed to send a team to assist others under the MOU within 24 hours of the crisis as well as provide advice and technical input.

SPAN chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Ridhuan Ismail said the floods which hit the east coast states last year saw water operators helping out their counterparts in Kelantan and Terengganu.

“Taking a leaf from the episode, the concessionaires want to make their collaboration official and to rope in SPAN to coordinate assistance from these companies as well as from other agencies and bodies,” he said during the signing ceremony.

The cost of providing assistance, including supplying water and equipment, will be borne by the concessionaires offering the help.

Mohd Ridhuan said the inking of the MoU was timely to prepare for any flood.

He said although no operators had submitted request for assistance, the companies and SPAN could start preparing a list of aid that would be useful during floods.