Malaysia: Johor exco man urges water sufficiency

ZAZALI MUSA The Star 26 Oct 16;

JOHOR BARU: Johor will face a major water crisis if the state fails to develop sustainable water management by 2018.

State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said Johor has less than two years to start exploring new water resources.

He said present water production capacity of 1,700 million litres daily will not be enough to meet consumer demand, which is expected to double by 2018.

Hasni said if this happens, new investments in the state, especially in Iskandar Malaysia, will be affected.

"About 40% of the 1,700 million litres daily is being used by domestic and industrial users in south Johor where Iskandar Malaysia is located," he said.

Hasni said the state will have to ensure that new investments continue to flow into Iskandar Malaysia after 2018 by ensuring adequate water supply in the economic growth corridor.

He told reporters this in a press conference Wednesday after witnessing the signing of the corporate integrity pledge between SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd and its 350 business associates.

Hasni said the state government already has plans to start exploring for underground water to ensure that Johor will not face a water crisis.

"We are working with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Japan Water Forum to conduct research on underground water reserves in the state," he added.

Hasni said the Mersing and Kluang districts have been identified as where exploration for underground water reserves could be conducted.

He said the state government will also look at other options, including building desalination plants.

Hasni said the developer of the multi-billion-ringgit Forest City project in Gelang Patah is required to build a desalination plant because of the scale of the project.