COMMENT | Water pollution woes: ‘Finger in the dyke’ solutions?

COMMENT | After about a week, the water supply in the Klang Valley has been restored and as the affected consumers regain their normal daily life, one nightmare, undoubtedly, remains on their mind; how soon will the next water crisis occur?

In any calamity, after all the devastation and suffering, a few men (or women) appear standing tall and become a beacon of hope, giving confidence that the worst is over. The current Covid-19 pandemic exemplifies this. We have one or two icons standing tall, fully in charge, amidst the hardworking front-liners who slog day and night, giving us confidence that we are in safe hands even as the virus is threatening a comeback. So much so, the public has become complacent, careless and over indulgent.

But are we in a similar situation after this latest recurring water crises? The myriad and disparate responses coming from various authorities, regulators, and agencies only amplify the apprehension and suspicion of the lack of commitment, consultation and coordinated actions in addressing this multifaceted problem. There’s a perception of washing dirty linen in public to absolve responsibility and inaction. Many of us are left with a bad taste in our mouth, with every response eliciting more questions.

Now, let’s take a closer look at a couple of the responses and their implications. The analysis is...