SHAH ALAM, 6 May: The State Government welcomes everyone, including local universities, interested to analyse the safety of mine water being supplied to consumers in the Klang Valley.
The Executive Councillor for Youth and Sports, Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Dr Yunus Hairi, said that this approach is being taken because there have been disputes from many parties recently.
He said that prior to this, the State Government had analysed the matter every year since 2011 to 2013, and the raw water meets the standards set by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia.
“Analysis is carried out by the state Health Department every year. The Selangor Water Management Authority (SWMA) also studied a sample from the pool by analysts from SIRIM.
“That is why we are opening up to local universities, including professors, who are interested or curious to conduct research.
“We welcome this because our State Government is transparent. We are open to anyone interested, but they have to first obtain permission from SWMA because the area is under them,” he said.
Previously, some water researchers urged the State Government to prove any approval from the Ministry of Health regarding the safety level of mine water being supplied to consumers.
Since 2012, the Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, gave assurance that the alternative source of water from mines is safe and meets the standards of raw water set by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia.
The assurance towards the proposed alternative source of water was also stated by Abdul Khalid during the State Assembly session on the State Government’s proposal to make mine water an alternative source to overcome the water shortage.
Previously, SWMA and the Selangor State Health Department held a sampling of water quality for 30 former mining ponds in 2005.
The results of this study showed at least 17 mines were suitable to be used as an alternative water source.
