The Federal Government and the Johor State Government will cooperate to upgrade and improve the quality of sewerage services in the areas of Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) and Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG). This collaboration involves the handover of sewerage services in these two areas to Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd, a company owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated and an agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA).
With this takeover, IWK will operate in both areas beginning 1st December 2021. IWK will take over the operation and maintenance of 191 sewage treatment plants, namely 147 in MBJB and 44 in MBPG, involving a population equivalent (PE) of 1.46 million people. IWK will also provide desludging services to approximately 293,236 individual septic tanks as well as traditional tanks in both areas.
Last October, a collaborative agreement on the takeover of the public sewerage system at MBJB and MBPG was signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Johor Special Water (JSW) Sdn Bhd, Tuan Haji Zulkiflee Haji Abas and the Chief Executive Officer of IWK, Narendran Maniam. YB Dato’ Sri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Minister of Environment and Water and YAB Datuk Haji Hasni Mohammad, Chief Minister of Johor had witnessed the signing ceremony.
Through this collaboration, the quality of sewerage services, especially in terms of compliance with the Department of Environment’s (DOE) treated effluent discharge standards and the quality of services can be improved in stages. IWK's experience and technical expertise as the national sewerage company is able to ensure that sewerage assets are operated and maintained optimally, thus reducing disturbance to residents and supporting environmental sustainability. This initiative can also curb the pollution of water resources by improperly treated effluent into 18 major rivers including the Skudai River, Kim-Kim River and Masai River.
During the signing ceremony of the collaboration agreement, the Honorable Minister of KASA, Dato’ Sri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man stated that MBJB and MBPG will receive grants from the Federal Government to improve the level of sewerage services such as plant improvement, distribution system upgrade and construction of centralised sewage treatment plants by handing over sewerage site reserve to the Federal Land Commissioner.
According to Tuan Ibrahim, KASA is committed to improving the quality of the country's sewerage services in line with the Sustainable Development Goal: Goal 6, which is to ensure access to clean water and sanitation as a whole. The sewerage sector is also one of the critical components in realising the Water Sector Transformation 2040 and is supported through the implementation of sewerage projects with a total allocation of almost RM3 billion under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
Chief Executive Officer of IWK, Narendran Maniam stated that with IWK's 27 years of experience and technical expertise, IWK will ensure that sewerage assets are operated and maintained optimally.
“IWK hopes that with this takeover, the sewerage system can be well maintained and can reduce the pollution of water sources by poorly treated wastewater that flows into the main rivers in the two areas of the City Councils, especially the Kim-Kim River, Masai River and Skudai River, ”said Narendran.
According to Narendran, IWK together with JSW, a subsidiary of Permodalan Darul Takzim needs some time to repair all public sewerage assets in these two areas. However, IWK will take appropriate measures to ensure that sewerage assets operate as efficiently as possible.
As for desludging services, the Federal Government Gazette came into effect in March and stipulates that owners or occupants whose premises use septic tanks are responsible to ensure that their septic tanks are in good condition. Through the Water Services Industry (Desludging Services) Regulations 2021, IWK as a national sewerage company will manage scheduled desludging on premises connected to septic tanks by issuing notices to consumers.
IWK provides desludging services in accordance with the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) under Section 65 (1) (c), where, septic tank owners must empty their individual septic tanks at least once every two years according to tank capacity and household size. This is to ensure that the septic tank functions properly and does not pollute the environment or public health. At the same time, JSW is the permit holder to carry out desludging work under the supervision of IWK in both areas.
Narendran added that IWK will remain commited in its effort to execute its mandate to operate and maintain the sewerage system efficiently.
Customers in the MBJB and MBPG areas who intend to obtain more information on billing can call 03-20832828. For more information, please contact IWK’s operations office at 07-511 4983 or visit the official website at iwk.com.my.
