KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 – The Water Services Industry (Amendment) Bill 2024, which aims to empower courts to order polluters to cover the cost of restoring contaminated water supply systems, was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.
The bill, which seeks to amend the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655), was tabled by Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
One of the key amendments proposed is to Section 121 of Act 655, making it an offence for any individual to contaminate a water source, resulting in the temporary cessation or disruption of water supply.
The bill also proposes that penalties be increased as a deterrent since contamination of the water supply system will affect a large number of consumers.
Additionally, it seeks to introduce a new subsection (1A) into Section 61 of Act 655 to prohibit the discharge of prohibited effluent or any other matter into a septic tank.
Fadillah said the second reading of the bill would be done during the current meeting.
