KUALA LUMPUR -- Water transfer projects between states are now a necessity, given the increasing demand for water due to the increase in the population in certain areas, as well as pressure from climate change.
Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that currently, the country has implemented water transfer projects from Pahang to Selangor, Johor to Melaka and Kedah to Penang, and many other projects are expected to be implemented in the future.
“This includes what we have studied so far between Perak and Penang. There are several things, as we emphasised, both state governments need to take the initiative to discuss this matter.
“The federal government is ready to be a facilitator and I have got indicators from both sides of the state governments that this discussion can start well," he said, during the Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said this in his reply to a supplementary question from Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan), who asked about the government's action in dealing with the public’s anger following the report of the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) which listed the Mengkuang Dam in Bukit Mertajam as one of the high-risk dams in the country.
-- BERNAMA
12 DISCOVERIES FROM SEAFLOOR MAPPING TO BE GAZETTED MID-NOVEMBER - ADLY
KUALA LUMPUR, A total of 12 findings from the seafloor mapping work in national waters are expected to be gazetted in the middle of this month, said Deputy Defence Minister, Adly Zahari.
He said that the discoveries from the seafloor mapping work, by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), will have a long-term impact on the country's identity and borders.
“Among the things that RMN has achieved in mapping the country's seafloor is that we have gazetted 17 discoveries on the seafloor thus far.
“Among those we have gazetted is Santubong Seamount, which is 1,417 metres in height, almost three times the height of KLCC. This discovery gives Malaysia its own identity,” he said, during a question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said this in response to a supplementary question from Azli Yusof (PH-Shah Alam), who wanted to know the discoveries during the seafloor mapping work in Malaysian waters carried out by RMN.
-- BERNAMA
MKN, BAKAMLA COOPERATE TO RESOLVE DETAINED FISHING BOAT ISSUES
KUALA LUMPUR -- The National Security Council (MKN) has always worked closely with the Maritime Security Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (Bakamla), to resolve issues involving local fishing boats detained by Indonesian enforcement agencies.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the cooperation has always been ongoing, with the last time discussions involving the two agencies involved being in 2021.
“Malaysia’s foreign policy always practices the concept of sovereignty and national interests, and the Malaysian government, through relevant agencies, always supervises and monitors national waters to ensure they are not invaded by foreign fishermen and protecting the interests of Malaysian fishermen,” he said during a question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said this in his reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas), who wanted to know the government's actions to resolve fishermen’s complaints about their boats being impounded by Indonesian enforcement agencies.
-- BERNAMA
SPNB TO REPAIR, BUILD NEW PPKB HOUSES IF PBT FACES CONSTRAINTS
KUALA LUMPUR -- Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) will be the implementing agency for the construction and repair work of new housing units under the Urban Poverty Eradication Programme (PPKB) if the local authorities (PBT) face constraints in implementing them.
Deputy Local Government Development Minister, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, said that currently, the PBT is the implementing agency for repairing and building new houses; however, the Local Government Development Ministry (KPKT) also received feedback regarding the inability of the PBT to carry out the work.
“There are PBTs which do not have the capacity, for example; there are manpower constraints, so next year if there is an application from the PBT and they are unable to implement it, then we have discussed with SPNB to be the implementing agency if there is a need,” he said during a question and answer session in Parliament today.
He was replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib (PN-Maran), regarding the agency responsible for implementing the renovation and new construction of houses for the urban poor.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency