Malaysia is to immediately close 16 open dumpsites around the country located near water reserves over fears they could pollute water supplies.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that the landfill areas in seven states in Peninsular Malaysia would be closed following concern over the recent contamination of water supplies from run-off pollution.

"An action plan will be drawn up as soon as possible and immediate action will be taken because the 16 landfill sites are found to be near sources of water and can endanger the public," he was quoted as saying late Friday by the state Bernama news agency.

No water for a day

Some two million Malaysians in areas surrounding the nation's capital Kuala Lumpur were left without water for a day in April after run-off from a landfill leaked into a river tributary, causing high levels of ammonia.

The closures come amidst growing concern over the state of Malaysia's rivers, which are suffering increasing pollution from industrial activities and development.