KUALA LUMPUR: The country needs to pay serious attention to the impact of rising global temperatures of above 1.1 degrees Celsius which results in climate change such as dry season and frequent floods, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       The Prime Minister said the matter was emphasised at the Third Meeting of the National Water Council (MAN) 2021 which he chaired virtually.

       It was also attended by federal ministers, Chief Ministers and Mentris Besar, Chief Secretary to the Government, Treasury secretary-general, as well as heads of the relevant departments and agencies, Bernama reported.

       According to the Prime Minister, the meeting recommended action that take into account factors on the impact of climate change that should be implemented immediately in development planning to avoid increased property damage and loss of life.

       He said the meeting also emphasised the water sector transformation agenda - carried out under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) to 15MP - that would make the water sector an economic enabler and a generator of dynamic growth by 2040.

       "Close cooperation between the federal and the state governments is very important in ensuring the success of the transformation agenda," he said in a statement here.

       Ismail Sabri said in realising that the rapid urbanisation process has caused frequent floods, MAN agreed to the proposal to gazette the government's land reserves to maintain the function of flood retention ponds and river reserves functions, ensure quality of water resources and to conserve the environment.

       "Disruption to these facilities or components will affect the entire flood mitigation system which includes the main components, namely the rivers and retention ponds," he added.

       Apart from that, he said, MAN agreed that the action and adaptation of coastal protection for short, medium and long-term through nature-based solutions should take into account factors on climate change and the sea-level rise.

       "This is to ensure the level of coastal protection is able to deal with extreme disasters to reduce the impact of disasters and ensure socio-economic sustainability and national development," he added.

       According to the Prime Minister, MAN also agreed on the collaboration in the implementation of recycled water between Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd and the states’ water operators to optimise the country's water resources and contribute towards environmental sustainability through the concept of circular economy in managing the country's water resources.

       Ismail Sabri said the provision of new water sources for use in the non-food industry was one of the government's strategies as a measure to rehabilitate and conserve water resources as well as to provide an additional source of income for water operators.

       MAN also took note of two notification papers, namely the division of responsibilities between the Irrigation and Drainage Department; local authorities and other agencies on drainage systems, and monitoring and production of groundwater resources, he added.