Water consumers in this country, in particular, those in the Klang Valley are much heartened by the recent news that a National Water Commission (NWC) would be set up under the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications to protect consumers' rights to affordable and adequate supply of potable water in this country (StarBiz, 27 April 2004).

It was also reported that NWA would be established first before the implementation of new water supply privatisation. Again, this is a move in the right direction to the chagrin of a couple of water companies who are awaiting the signing of privatisation agreements negotiated earlier.

Amongst others, the NWC proposes to set performance benchmarks or standards for water companies in water tariffs, quality and services and also to include a body called "Suara Air" to address consumers' complaints on water quality and services.

Currently there are standards and rules existing in Malaysia governing the supply of water to consumers. They are the "National Guidelines on Drinking Water Quality, 1983" issued by the Ministry of Health and the respective states' water supply enactments and rules.

Obviously, the existing standards and rules are either ineffective or difficult to enforce judging from numerous consumers' complaints on poor water quality and services in this country, particularly in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, which have not been addressed effectively.

Also, consumers association in Malaysia, the champions of consumers' rights, should be at the forefront to take up the dirty water issue with the water authorities. But, sad to say, no action has ever been initiated by any of them.

Therefore, the proposal to establish NWC by Energy, Water and Communications Minister, Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik is most timely and welcome. Though the minister is only about a month at this new ministry, he appears to have "answers to things that have been leaking for years" when Water was under a different ministry.

Note:

A version of the above was published in The Star (28 April, 2004).