USM, UTM EMPOWERS WATER SAFETY CLUSTER

NIBONG TEBAL, 10 May 2016 – University Sains Malaysia (USM) and University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) collaborated in empowering Water Safety Cluster to ensure that the community can receive adequate and quality water supply.

Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Engineering Campus, USM, Professor Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah said that the Water Safety Conference (WSC’16) held at USM, not only would unite experts in the field but would formulate critical and important items on the issue of water safety.

 “Water is a valuable resource bestowed upon us by the Almighty and we should appreciate it”, stressed Ahmad Farhan in his opening speech at the conference today.

 “We have knowledgeable engineers and researchers from a technical standpoint in ensuring adequate water supply to achieve the vision 2020 goals of providing quality water”, he said further.

He added that the outcome of the two day discussions is expected to have an impact and direction as well as to latest and more efficient methods in solving the country’s water issue which would eventually reach the community.

In the meantime, he is also proud with the School of Civil Engineering, USM, and leading component in water security cluster and has been widely implementing programmes based on community service in the form of providing clean water.

Also present, Chief Executive Officer, Water Supply Corporation, Penang (PBAPP), Dato’ Ir. Jaseni Maidinsa, Senior Director, Institute of  Ibnu Sina, UTM, Professor Dr. Abdull Rahim Mohd Yusoff, Chief of Water Safety Cluster, Professor Ir. Dr. Nordin Adlan dan Deputy Director, National Water Services Commission (SPAN), Khithob Ahmad.

Elaborating on the water problem that hit the country from the effects of El Nino recently, Jaseni said, the drought is now longer than before which has been tracked since 2014.

He said, there were differences in the effects of climate change in the present whereby the dry season can reach up to three months and cause an impact on the country’s water management.

 “If in the past, we build a dam in history or British standards but not anymore, because we need to view it in a larger scale and may need more than 180 days”, he said at the press conference.

He said Malaysia had a lot of rain up to 2500 to 3000 millimeters a year and it is enough to cover supply during periods of drought.

According to him, the rain water should be reserved in a safe place that is a larger dam and in accordance to the present situation.

 “The issue now is whether the dam in our country is now safe enough to hold the water”, he asked reporters.

The Two-day conference was attended by the Perak Water Board (LAP), Water Supply Corporation Penang (PBAPP), Water Supply for Rural Area Sarawak Department, Malacca Water Monitoring Body, Malacca Water Company (SAMB), National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM).

Text: Mohd Kamil Ashar / Photo: Faisal Mohamad
Translation: Siti Sara Zainal Abidin