Govt aims to improve water quality in 33 polluted rivers in Malaysia by 10pc, says DPM Fadillah

An aerial view of the Kinabatangan River in Sabah on August 26, 2026, is shown for illustration purposes. The government aims to improve the Water Quality Index of 33 rivers identified as polluted in 2025 by at least 10 per cent within a year, with recognition for state governments that meet the target. — AFP pic

First Published: Monday, 12 Oct 2026 7:17 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 — The government aims to improve the Water Quality Index (WQI) of 33 rivers identified as polluted in 2025 by at least 10 per cent within a year, with appropriate recognition to be given to state governments that achieve the target.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the target was set at the second 2026 meeting of the National Special Committee on Addressing River Water Quality Deterioration, which he chaired today.

Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said Department of Environment (DOE) reports showed that the number of polluted rivers rose from 25 in 2023 to 27 in 2024 and 33 in 2025.

In Selangor, the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) reported 144 cases of water source pollution detected over the three years up to September 14, 2026, with varying levels of risk.

“I appreciate the commitment of Luas and relevant agencies nationwide in detecting and addressing pollution. However, this increase clearly shows that existing measures need to be strengthened through more effective, coordinated and sustained action,” he said in a Facebook post.

Fadillah said polluted rivers could disrupt water treatment plant operations, affect public water supplies, increase treatment costs and affect economic activities, underscoring the need to make water resource protection a shared priority at all levels of administration.

He said the meeting also decided to conduct a pilot study on the integrated management of non-point source (NPS) pollution at a selected local authority area to test the applicability of field data, estimate pollution loads, identify priority areas and formulate appropriate control measures.

In addition, a Technical Committee on Effluent Discharge Standards, chaired by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, will be established in collaboration with the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM) to coordinate the implementation of effluent discharge standards in urban and rural areas.

The meeting also saw the launch of the Guidelines for the Installation of Floating Solar Panels on Water Reservoirs and Lakes in Malaysia, which will serve as a reference to ensure that floating solar developments are carried out in a planned and sustainable manner while safeguarding the country’s water resources.

The integrated efforts reflected the government’s commitment to tackling pollution at its source, protecting water resources and safeguarding national water security through cooperation between the federal government, state governments, local authorities and all stakeholders, he added. — Bernama