29/01/2025

WEDNESDAY | JAN 29, 2025

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River pollution still prevalent despite regulations

Education fund focuses on SSPN savings KUALA LUMPUR: The National Higher Education Fund Corporation is prioritising savings initiatives as a key strategy to reduce public reliance on loans while improving access to higher education opportunities. Chairman Datuk Seri Norliza Abdul Rahim said the initiative is being implemented through the National Education Savings Scheme ( Simpan SSPN ), which includes Simpan SSPN Prime and Simpan SSPN Plus, both offering various benefits. “The benefits of Simpan SSPN include free takaful coverage for depositors, matching grants of up to RM10,000 for eligible families, competitive syariah -compliant dividends and more. “In Budget 2025, the government expanded the eligibility criteria for the matching grant under Simpan SSPN Prime accounts. This now includes families with incomes between RM4,000 and RM6,000 whose children are pursuing higher education under the Ihsan Matching Grant Initiative. “Eligible families can apply for grants of up to RM5,000 per family over two years,” she announced during the launch of the WOW! Simpan SSPN 2025 campaign on Monday. – Bernama Swift action on alleged bullying in hospital PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has confirmed receiving complaints circulating on social media and local news about a racially charged bullying incident and toxic work culture at a hospital in Sabah. In a statement yesterday, the ministry said the matter has been referred to its Integrity Unit for investigation, with follow-up actions to be taken promptly. “The individuals involved are encouraged to file an official report via the MyHelp system to facilitate the investigation. Bullying, in any form, will not be tolerated within the ministry,” the statement read. The ministry reaffirmed its zero tolerance stance on bullying, emphasising that such behaviour contradicts its commitment to providing a safe and fair working environment. It added that strict disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty. – Bernama

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o Expert attributes issue to gap between law and enforcement, with lax coordination among agencies and absence of consistent, proactive measures

warnings.” Faizuan also pointed out that river pollution in Malaysia often falls below global standards, particularly in urban and industrial regions. Many rivers are classified under lower water quality indices, rendering them unsuitable for drinking or recreational use. “Smaller enterprises often lack the resources to invest in proper wastewater treatment facilities, while some larger industries may prioritise profit over environmental compliance, relying on weak regulatory oversight to avoid detection,” he said. He added that the most critical environmental impact of increasing pollution levels in Malaysia’s rivers is the loss of biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems, with many species of fish, amphibians and aquatic plants being highly sensitive to pollution and cannot survive in degraded water quality.

mandating environmental remediation by polluters and imposing stricter jail sentences for repeat offenders could strengthen its effectiveness,” he said. Faizuan noted common pollutants in Malaysian rivers include lead, cadmium, mercury from industrial sites, pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, industrial chemicals such as phenols and hydrocarbons, and untreated sewage contributing ammonia and pathogens. He said these pollutants often stem from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, urban stormwater and illegal waste dumping. “Although Malaysia has established river monitoring systems, many rely on periodic sampling, which may not capture episodic events such as illegal discharges. Real-time monitoring systems, while available in some areas, are not widespread enough to

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

result in stricter penalties. Inter agency collaboration is vital for long-term monitoring and enforcement, while education and public awareness are equally important,” he said. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia department of chemistry senior lecturer Dr Faizuan Abdullah highlighted the 2019 illegal chemical dumping at Johor’s Kim Kim River, which released toxic fumes affecting 6,000 people as a stark reminder of the need for preventive measures. “While the Environmental Quality Act 1974 imposes penalties for pollution, these may not deter larger corporations that can absorb

DHAKA: A total of 7,964 Bangladeshi workers, out of approximately 18,000 whose migration to Malaysia had been delayed, have been selected for entry into the country in the initial phase, United News of Bangladesh reported. The Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed the update during its weekly media briefing on Monday. Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Islam revealed that on Dec 5, 2024, the Bangladesh high commissioner to Malaysia held PETALING JAYA: Despite strict regulations and monitoring systems, river pollution remains a persistent issue in Malaysia, worsened by poor enforcement and a reactive approach by the authorities, according to Ecological Association of Malaysia president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail. He noted agencies often act only when problems arise, neglecting preventive measures such as maintaining buffer zones, monitoring effluents and addressing potential pollution sources during floods or system failures. “The ongoing issue of river pollution highlights a significant gap between regulations and enforcement. There is insufficient coordination among government bodies and a lack of consistent, proactive measures to prevent pollution,” he said. In December 2024, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad reported 25 rivers were categorised as polluted last year, with the Environment Department monitoring 672 rivers using 1,353 manual water quality stations. However, Ahmad stressed that monitoring should extend beyond fixed stations to include potential pollution sources such as floods and effluent processing malfunctions. “Comprehensive monitoring systems should ensure the security of rivers from contamination while considering critical factors like buffer zones, sensitive areas such as water intakes and habitats for wildlife like wetlands.” He said identifying gaps in monitoring requires understanding the specific role of rivers within the community, including their ecological and human importance. “Additionally, pollution caused by a single factory that disrupts water supply for millions should

Faizuan said although Malaysia has established river monitoring systems, many rely on periodic sampling, which may not capture episodic events such as illegal discharges. – PIC FROM LUAS FACEBOOK PAGE

Only 7,964 Bangladeshi workers allowed entry

Employers warned against forcing leave on workers

2024 and Jan 14, 2025, where the list of over 17,000 workers was reviewed and verified with Malaysian stakeholders. This process led to the selection of 7,964 workers for immediate entry in the first phase. The spokesperson added that these workers have been deemed eligible for immediate travel to Malaysia. When asked about the travel arrangements for the workers, Alam said the joint technical committee is continuing discussions to finalise the necessary procedures. – Bernama

a meeting with Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in Kuala Lumpur to address the prolonged delay in the migration process of about 18,000 workers. During the meeting, Saifuddin proposed forming a joint technical group to expedite the phased entry of the workers. The group was to include representatives from Malaysia’s Immigration Department and the Bangladesh High Commission. Following its establishment, the group held two meetings on Dec 31,

PUTRAJAYA: Employers planning to extend business closures beyond the gazetted public holidays for Chinese New Year are reminded not to force their workers to take annual or unpaid leave. The Human Resource Ministry said in a statement it has received complaints from employees about being compelled by their employers to take such leave. “The ministry wishes to emphasise that employees have the right to decide when to utilise their annual leave and

employers cannot force them to use annual or unpaid leave to reduce business costs. This is because annual and unpaid leave must be granted based on the employee’s request and discretion,”the statement read. The ministry advised employees who face deductions in their annual leave entitlement or salaries during extended company closures to report such cases to the nearest Labour Office under Section 69 of the Employment Act 1955. – Bernama