The Malaysian Nature Society Selangor (MNS) supports a speedy resolution of the ongoing deadlock between the federal and state governments regarding Selangor’s water supply in favour of long-term sustainable water resource management. MNS therefore urges both governments to be more flexible in their demands.

The federal government's current perspective is that the RM9 billion Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer project is a non-negotiable undertaking, despite the scheme having been roundly criticised as being both costly and unnecessary by stakeholders and civil society.

The federal approach appears to be focused solely on water supply management, instead of combining it with water demand management for best effect.

For the state government, providing 20 cubic meters of water free to every household is a decision that costs the state about RM12 million every month. This sends an undesirable signal to consumers that there is plenty of ‘water to waste’.

As a rational alternative, poor households could be compensated by some other mechanism, freeing the bulk of the RM12 million for other crucial services.

As it stands, both the federal and state positions go against principles of good stewardship of our natural and financial resources.

MNS therefore encourages all parties to the Selangor water supply to rethink and implement equitable strategies in terms of their responsibilities to the Malaysian environment and to the people they serve.

What is urgently needed is the implementation of a comprehensive national water demand management plan - as concerned stakeholders have long requested - given that states such as Selangor, Penang and Melaka have very high levels of water consumption.

In 2009, MNS, working jointly with a number of stakeholders, professional and civil society organisations drafted a proposal for a water demand management plan that was presented both to Span and the Selangor government.

By reducing water usage, a water demand management plan will help protect a critical resource – water – plus the flora and fauna which depend on it.

Furthermore, the government and taxpayers can likely avoid wasting billions of ringgit by finding efficient alternatives to the Pahang-Selangor Water Transfer project and other unwarranted new water infrastructure.

An effective water demand management plan across Malaysia can save more water in the long run than what the Pahang Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project proposes to supply.

MNS therefore urges the minister for Energy, Green Technology and Water to call for the immediate implementation of a national water demand management plan.

Failing federal commitment to such a plan, MNS would then urge the Selangor government to initiate a state plan without further delay.

The writer is chairperson, Selangor Branch, Malaysian Nature Society.