INGENIEUR
59
Most
Polluted Rivers in Malaysia
Class 3 Rivers
1 Sungai Chempedak ( Sungai Jawi ), Pulau Pinang 2 Sungai Juru ( Sungai Juru ), Pulau Pinang 3 Sungai Dua Besar ( Sungai Kluang ), Pulau Pinang 4 Sungai Air Melintas ( Sungai Perai ), Pulau Pinang / Kedah 5 Sungai Kereh ( Sungai Perai ), Pulau Pinang / Kedah 6 Sungai Pertama ( Sungai Perai ), Pulau Pinang / Kedah 7 Sungai Bakar Arang ( Sungai Merbok ), Kedah 8 Sungai Petani ( Sungai Merbok ), Kedah 9 Sungai Seluang ( Sungai Perak ), Perak 10 Sungai Air Busuk ( Sungai Klang ), Selangor / Kuala Lumpur 11 Sungai Untut ( Sungai Klang ), Selangor / Kuala Lumpur 12 Sungai Kerayong ( Sungai Klang ), Selangor / Kuala Lumpur 13 Sungai Klang ( Sungai Klang ), Selangor / Kuala Lumpur 14 Sungai Toba ( Sungai Klang ), Selangor / Kuala Lumpur 15 Sungai Buloh ( Sungai Buloh , Selangor 16 Sungai Balak ( Sungai Langat ), Selangor / Putrajaya / Negeri Sembilan 17 Sungai Tuang ( Sungai Tuang ), Negeri Sembilan / Melaka 18 Sungai Tuang ( Sungai Linggi ), Negeri Sembilan / Melaka 19 Sungai Malim ( Sungai Melaka ), Melaka / Negeri Sembilan 20 Sungai Putat ( Sungai Melaka ), Melaka / Negeri Sembilan 21 Sungai Simpang Kanan ( Sungai Batu Pahat ), Johor 22 Sungai Batu Pahat ( Sungai Batu Pahat ), Johor 23 Sungai Panchor ( Sungai Batu Pahat ), Johor 24 Sungai Semberong ( Sungai Batu Pahat ), Johor 25 Sungai Serai ( Sungai Johor ), Johor 26 Sungai Singol ( Sungai Endau ), Johor 27 Sungai Latoh ( Pasir Gudang Catchment ), Johor 28 Sungai Anak Sedili Kecil ( Sungai Sedili Kecil ), Johor 29 Sungai Skudai ( Sungai Skudai ), Johor 30 Sungai Segget ( Sungai Segget ), Johor 31 Sungai Plentong ( Sungai Tebrau ), Johor 32 Sungai Tebrau ( Sungai Tebrau ), Johor 33 Sungai Merlimau ( Sungai Muar ), Johor / Negeri Sembilan 34 Sungai Serom ( Sungai Muar ), Johor / Negeri Sembilan 35 Sungai Pengkalan Chepa ( Sungai Pengkalan Chepa ), Kelantan
Class 4 Rivers
36 Sungai Jawi ( Sungai Jawi ), Pulau Pinang 37 Sungai Rambai ( Sungai Juru ), Pulau Pinang 38 Sungai Kuyoh ( Sungai Klang ), Selangor / Kuala Lumpur 39 Sungai Merlimau ( Sungai Merlimau ), Melaka
40 Sungai Punggur ( Sungai Duyong ), Melaka 41 Sungai Air Baloi ( Sungai Air Baloi ), Johor 42 Sungai Temehel ( Sungai Batu Pahat ), Johor 43 Sungai Semenchu ( Sungai Johor ), Johor 44 Sungai Danga ( Sungai Danga ), Johor
45 Sungai Perembi ( Pasir Gudang Catchment ), Johor 46 Sungai Masai ( Pasir Gudang Catchment ), Johor 47 Sungai Buluh ( Pasir Gudang Catchment ), Johor 48 Sungai Tukang Batu ( Pasir Gudang Catchment ), Johor 49 Sungai Kempas ( Sungai Kempas ), Johor 50 Sungai Mupur ( Sungai Sedili Besar ), Johor 51 Sungai Ayer Merah ( Sungai Pontian Besar ), Johor 52 Sungai Bala ( Sungai Tebrau ), Johor 53 Sungai Sebulung ( Sungai Tebrau ), Johor 54 Sungai Pandan ( Sungai Tebrau ), Johor 55 Sungai Tampoi ( Sungai Tebrau ), Johor 56 Sungai Sengkuang ( Sungai Tebrau ), Johor 57 Sungai Neram ( Sungai Kemaman ), Terengganu 58 Sungai Alor B ( Sungai Pengkalan Chepa ), Kelantan
Class 5 Rivers
59 Sungai Rambai ( Sungai Sepang ), Selangor
Source : Department of Environment , 2019 comprising 17,344km of main rivers . With 97 % of Malaysia ’ s water resources being supplied by rivers and lakes , their conservation , i . e . through the protection of water catchments and river reserves , has often been taken for granted . Water supply for domestic and industrial sectors have dominated headlines especially during periods of scarcity . The National Water Resources Study 2010 concluded that in 2050 , with a projected population of 42 million , several states may face water shortages . Efforts to improve water supply and treatment infrastructure will not be sustainable unless non-structural measures are implemented . These include strong legislation , effective execution of the institutional functions , and a knowledgeable and environmentally conscious society .
Although IRBM has been officially endorsed as the key strategy for managing river basins in Malaysia , pollution problems remain unresolved . This poses the question as to how effective IRBM plans are as a management tool against river pollution .
Pollution is habitually a human contribution to the natural environment . Curative intervention through engineering alone is incapable of controlling pollution since engineering solutions can only succeed within the limits
10 VOL 87 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2021