Ways to deal with our water woes

 

Over a million residents in the Klang Valley faced yet another water crisis this past week, beginning on Sept 3, 2020. Supply was being restored in stages at the time of writing, with 62.7% of affected areas reconnected on Sunday (Sept 6) night.

Although people may see red over such unscheduled water cuts, I for one am extremely grateful to Air Selangor for doing the right thing by shutting off supply. Despite the expected backlash and the necessarily uncertain timeline to flush out the pollutants and restore supply, Air Selangor acted responsibly to ensure people are provided with clean, potable water.

This was not the case in the state of Michigan in the United States. In 2014, a cost-cutting measure by the Michigan water utility resulted in the residents of the town of Flint suffering from lead poisoning. People complained of smelly and polluted water but the utility and state authorities denied anything was wrong until the residents themselves had their water tested. The debacle resulted in 12 deaths and the health of nearly 8,000 children permanently affected. On Aug 20, 2020, the state of Michigan was ordered to pay US$600mil (RM2.5bil) as compensation to affected Flint residents.

In Malaysia, while Air Selangor ensures supply is clean, there are still issues that need to be addressed. The perpetrators of the latest pollution incident need to be punished – but is a monetary fine sufficient? The fact remains that nearly a million people could have been poisoned. Furthermore, should factories be allowed to operate by rivers that are a water source for water treatment plants? How are the people to be compensated for the inconvenience caused by disruptions to supply?

We have to seriously give importance to the health of the people and ensure that the possibility of poisoning does not occur. Our rivers are polluted by raw or partially treated sewage as well as industrial effluents, agricultural run-off, and waste from animal husbandry, land development and municipal rubbish dumps. Continuous monitoring of rivers is necessary along with strict enforcement of the law when it comes to waste management. Severe imprisonment for repeat offenders could be a deterrent to others.

Selangor has low water reserves which makes recovery of supply after a disruption difficult, usually stretching over several days. To increase water reserves, more water treatment plants were built, including the Semenyih 2, Langat 2 and Labohan Dagang plants. Water is channelled from Pahang to Kuala Langat to cater for our increasing needs.

But the overconsumption of water can lead to a water crisis, which is what happened in California. Unregulated usage caused the rapid and extreme depletion of surface and groundwater across the state, which experienced severe drought for seven years, ending in 2019 (though 2020 has had a dry start, experts warn). Selangor too has experienced droughts, in 2014 and 2016. We could easily fall into the same trap as the American state, ie, continuing to provide water to satisfy increasing demand and inadvertently drying up our resources.

Instead, we should be thinking about using our water resources sustainably. The World Health Organisation recommends 150 litres per person per day for a reasonable quality of life. In Malaysia, though, the average person consumes 209 litres a day. Other countries in South-East Asia consume much less: in the Philippines, it's 175 litres; Singapore, 155 litres; Indonesia has the lowest consumption, 130 litres.

It is time Malaysians learn to lower our usage of water. Water tariffs should be increased for usage beyond a set limit. Being a tropical country we are blessed with a lot of rain and rainwater harvesting is another way to conserve water resources. Municipal laws should include rainwater harvesting systems as part of design requirements for new homes or apartments.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is pipe replacement in the water distribution network. As much as 29% of treated water is lost in Selangor. According to the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), three-quarters of non-revenue water is due to physical losses through leaking pipes. Why don’t we simply replace these leaky pipes? It’s down to financing. The Water Industry Fund was established to ensure sustainability of water supply by protecting and preserving water courses; contributors to this fund are confined to water supply licensees and authorised persons at the moment. However, I think the fund should be opened to contributions from consumers, corporations and government grants. The money can be invested and the net returns can finance the maintenance of water infrastructure in perpetuity, thus ensuring water sustainability and security for all.

Will consumers contribute to this fund? Well, first there has to be trust. Consumers might not want to contribute because they might not trust that water utility services will improve. To build trust, consumers must be guaranteed water without supply disruptions or rationing. If the water utility is unable to fulfil this obligation, then it must compensate consumers. Water supply disruptions have a cost to people in terms of wasted time, cost to purchase drinking water, cost to travel to other places that have water, and cost in terms of business closures. The people must be compensated for all this – and this will ensure the efficiency of water utilities, as having to pay compensation would affect their bottom line. Having a clear client charter that stipulates the amount of compensation for days without water will enable people to consider paying higher tariffs or even contributing to the water fund.

At the end of the day, people just want clean, potable water coming from their taps.

DR KULSANOFER SYED THAJUDEEN

Petaling Jaya

Educate girls to get them out of poverty

THERE has been much hullabaloo about teen marriages lately. What bothers me is the labelling of men who marry their young brides as paedophiles. 

I come from a family whose culture is to marry their daughters young. My grandmothers, aunts and my mother were in their early teens when they got married and had children. The men who married them are respectable members of society whom I admire and love. 

The thought that people would label them as paedophiles really sickens me. Of course, times have changed and I am extremely grateful that my parents decided to educate me instead of marrying me off young. However, I cannot stop thinking that I too could have become a young bride and missed out on all the opportunities that I have been blessed with.

I am compelled to voice my opinion on this matter because of how society is all riled up in condemning these marriages. Who are we to judge them? We do not live their lives to understand their problems. These children may come from poor homes with many siblings. Marrying off their daughter is a respectable way for these parents to reduce their burden as there is one less mouth to feed. The daughter becomes the responsibility of her husband and if he is well-to-do, he could be of assistance to the family. 

though setting an age limit will stop these marriages, these families must also be given assistance so that they would not view girls as a burden. They must be made to see that their daughters have an alternative future to just marriage. These girls must be identified and given scholarships to continue their education or given some skills to be able to fend for themselves. Empowering women is a powerful way to ensure they can decide their own future and not just rely on their male relatives.

Religious authorities should create awareness in villages to encourage families to educate their daughters. The tithe collected can be used to educate the girls. Even if they do get married at a young age, these girls would be able to earn their own keep if they want or need to. An education will enable them to plan their pregnancy and take charge of their lives.

Finally, society must also help by not condemning but through giving assistance. All parents want the best for their children, and if they can be given another alternative for a brighter future, I am sure they would want it for their daughters.

KULSANOFER SYED THAJUDEEN

Petaling Jaya

Be Positive Agents of Change

Letters

Friday, 11 August 2017

Be positive agents of change

I HAVE been contemplating on Adam Smith’s notion that man is driven by self-interest and that rational self-interested individuals will not act to achieve their common or group interest. 

This would explain the appalling behaviour of individuals who misuse parking lots for the disabled, cut queue and commit a myriad of other misdemeanours that is so common today. 

Nonetheless, in his book The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Smith noted that no matter how selfish man is, it is in his nature to do good onto others and derive pleasure from it. 

In the course of my study, I wanted to explore a community’s willingness to come forward to create a common good. I emailed the residents’ association committee of my neighbourhood to suggest setting up a community library, among others. My housing area is a perfect example of an urban neighbourhood as it is inhabited mainly by busy professionals and retired individuals. 

I hypothesised that my suggestions would not be heeded but I was so wrong. I was suddenly thrust in the midst of a residents’ association meeting to talk about my suggestions. 

I had suggested a simple book exchange system using an existing infrastructure but what became reality was a proper library fitted with shelves, air-conditioners, Internet connection and CCTVs. 

As soon as word got out about the proposed library, books started pouring in, people came in to help and the place quickly took shape. 

Although the resources were supplied by the community, the library would not have been completed as fast as it was if not for the efforts of one man, Mr Khoo. 

He spent days renovating the building and putting the library system in place. I was curious about why he was spending so much time on it and when I asked, he simply said he believed in the community and that the library would become its heartbeat. 

And the community did come together to help with the books, computers and putting the library together on time. I truly believe in the power of a community now. 

We are increasingly living in our own little worlds, separated from neighbours not only by fences but also by our tendency to stay away from other people. 

But that is not how human beings are supposed to live. Being active on social networking sites is not enough; we need to engage with society. It is vital for the social health of the community. 

Building relationships and having good engagements will help to inspire individuals and communities to shape their own neighbourhoods. The ability to openly share, exchange and understand different views would certainly develop effective working relationships in the community. 

Imagine the good that can be achieved through cooperation and collective action instead of always relying on the Government when something needs to be done.

I also believe now that even one person can make a difference. Each and every one of us is able to contribute towards improving the world we live in. 

So be the change agents in your own communities. 

Thank you, Mr Khoo, Resident’s Association of Taman Subang and the residents for this valuable lesson I have learnt and also for being an exemplary community.

KULSANOFER SYED THAJUDEEN

Petaling Jaya

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2017/08/11/be-positive-agents-of-change/#rUk0gpSEO5SVtvhO.99

Moving Away from Mortgages

Monday, 7 December 2015

Moving away from mortgages

 

WHEN I read the news reports about Muhammad Azree’s container home (pix, Bernama), I was excited. This young man was brave enough to think out of the box to get his own home without tying himself to a long-term mortgage. 

Owning a house is becoming a luxury instead of a necessity in Malaysia due to the increase in property prices. In Klang Valley, prices have increased by at least 17% between 2009 and 2011. 

The reasons often cited for the hike in price are that demand is more than supply, and rise in construction costs in terms of material, land and labour. The high mortgages offered by banks, which is up to 90%, could also be a contributory factor in this price increase. Since some people can afford to buy property at higher prices through housing loans, the price would surely increase. This is a common phenomenon where the rich own multiple homes while the poor are not able to afford any. Mortgages ensnare most people for life, and they are unable to have enough to enjoy a better life. 

People need to have alternatives to owning a home, and for this we could look at Sweden for a good example. JAK Members Bank in Sweden is a cooperative owned by its members who pay a membership fee. Members accumulate “savings points” and then use these when applying for a loan. The bank does not charge interest on the loan and no interest is paid for the savings. All administrative and development costs are paid for by membership and loan fees. It is a community effort to cultivate an interest-free economy. Islamic banks especially can look into the feasibility of starting a similar business model in Malaysia. 

Other alternatives would include using different modes of accommodation, and Azree has given us an example. The Tiny House movement in the US has been gaining traction and is now becoming very popular among the young and old. The tiny homes complete with a functioning kitchen, shower and compost toilet are quite comfortable. 

In the US, one does not need to own land for their tiny home. The community of tiny homeowners has various options to park their homes. They have many websites where the community gets feedback on rental spaces in other people’s backyards, land for rental and mobile home parks, thus giving them many options. 

There are two things that tie an individual to debt – a vehicle and a home. So it makes sense to have a two-in-one – live in your vehicle. Vans and buses can be converted to homes. Young professionals can park their van-cum–home in their office parking lot. 

There are many public parking lots that are empty at night and individuals can use these for their mobile home.

These ideas can generate new businesses and at the same time solve the housing problems – building tiny homes, converting vans into homes like a recreation vehicle, and collecting rental from car parks, backyards, unused land and mobile home parks. 

They can also help to reduce the cost of houses and speculation in the housing market. The policy makers can enable these alternatives by passing laws for mobile home parks, or making it easier for those who choose these alternative options. 

These options give an opportunity for young people to own homes without tying themselves into debt. 

KULSANOFER SYED THAJUDEEN

Petaling Jaya

Raising civic-minded kids

THE introduction of the Civics and Citizenship subject had the noble intention of educating our youth about civic-consciousness and our duties as a citizen. 

My question is, by studying the subject and getting an A in it, will it make the student a perfect citizen?

Civic-consciousness, in my opinion, cannot be instilled in a classroom setting. It has to have a deep emotional impact to make someone do the right thing. 

We are all naturally born with a moral compass to distinguish right from wrong. 

When you are about to do something wrong, there is an immediate tingling feeling. 

It’s as if your conscience is pricking at you and you make the decision to do the right thing or otherwise. Thus, teaching right from wrong is unnecessary. 

Most people are guided and motivated by their principles or religious beliefs to make the right decision. In a world that is slowly losing these principles, where religion is looked down upon, where materialism and consumerism rule supreme, people are fast losing all that makes up humanity.

The culture of Malaysians can be plainly seen in our language. The Malay language is full of nuances that accord respect to the elders. There is no harshness. In fact, people were always soft-spoken and it became part of the culture.

Unfortunately, we see a lot of road rage now. We also see lots of video clips on social media showing the ugly side of Malaysians who swear at and harm others.

What happened to adab and sopan santun? 

It is said that children mirror what the adults do. If that is true then I am very afraid for the future of our country.

We may have come a long way as a nation but I am not proud of what we have become. Success is not only about economic growth alone. The happiness of citizens living in this country is equally important.

I believe that in order to improve civic-consciousness among our children, we have to take them out of schools and into the society. 

There are many social problems in this country. A nation will not prosper if it does not care for its weak. 

Children must be taught to respect and help the very old, the very young and the helpless. 

Spending time at old folks’ homes as part of their learning curriculum would give a chance for the young to interact with the old. There are many skills and knowledge that the old can impart to the young while the young can bring joy to the old. It would be a win-win situation. 

Allowing children to work with abandoned babies is another avenue for them to learn about being civic-conscious. This would also make them mature faster and be responsible while the extra help would be a boon for the charities concerned. 

Children could also be exposed to work at animal shelters to instil in them the importance of protecting all of God’s creations. They would be aware that abandoning a pet has big consequences for the animal. 

Exposure to the realities of life is important for children to feel empathy towards other human beings and animals. 

Singapore has been named as a country with the smartest students. Although this is a great accolade, we should not forget about the human side of the child.

Malaysia can strive to become the country with the most compassionate students and citizens. 

KULSANOFER SYED THAJUDEEN

Petaling Jaya

What women want?

On International Women’s Day last Thursday, we asked our women readers to share with us what is important to them by replying to five questions. For the past week, you have emailed us your replies, and shared your priorities, aspirations and dreams with us. We wish we could publish all the replies, but we have space constraints. So, we have selected replies that represent the stories of the Malaysian women, and reflect the diversity of the challenges they face, which we’ll publish till Sunday.

And of course we have gifts for women whose replies we published. This is not a contest, and the gifts are given out in the spirit of making someone’s day. Enjoy them!

Kulsanofer Syed Thajudeen, 38, mother of four and homemaker, Petaling Jaya

1. What makes you happy?

That my life has a purpose – being a mother to my children is my raison d’etre. There are times when dealing with children can be a great trial, but when I watch them do the right thing without being told, I know I have raised them well.

2. What is most important to you?

The freedom to choose how I live and not be dictated by anyone. Too many women have suffered due to circumstances and cultures that do not respect women’s rights. As a Muslim woman who understands Syariah law, I know my rights as a daughter and a wife. In Islam, the wife has a right to her own home, to own property, to educate herself and to earn her own income. I strongly believe in empowering women so that she would be able to fend for herself and her children if the need arises and not be subject to oppression. Freedom is for all.

3. What was most important to you 10 years ago?

Ten years ago I was a young professional working hard to climb the corporate ladder. I worked weekdays and studied during the weekends. I never stopped to smell the roses or spend time with my eldest child. Life was a bullet train with no stops.

4. What is on top of your bucket (wish) list?

To do a good job of raising my four children and not cause any psychological scars to any of them! So top of my list is to wish that my children would turn out to be exceptional individuals who would contribute to society, be considerate and kind to all.

5. I want ...

To be able to look back and see a life well-lived. You try to play the different roles to the best of your ability and then move on. You may not be able to satisfy everyone along the way, but you can be true to yourself and stick to what you believe in. At the end of the day, you can be content and at peace with yourself.