PUTRAJAYA, The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) will lead the Working Committee on New Pollutants through the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM). This decision was agreed upon during the meeting of the Special Committee to Address Deterioration of River Water Quality (JKKAS) today, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of PETRA, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. In a statement today, PETRA, informed that the committee will develop policies and strengthen governance related to new pollutants in Malaysia's water sources, involving Federal agencies and state water regulatory bodies. NAHRIM will also act as the leader, implementer, and research hub for new pollutants in collaboration with all stakeholders. PETRA also announced that Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd plans to upgrade public sewage treatment plants that do not meet the design standards specified in the Environmental Quality (Sewage) Regulations 2009, as well as those located in environmentally sens itive areas. It said this initiative aims to reduce the pollution burden on rivers caused by effluent discharge. "The upgrades are being carried out in phases and involve 2,932 existing sewage treatment plants," it stated. PETRA added that during today's meeting, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government shared initiatives to control river water quality, while the Selangor state government shared best practices in integrated water resource management. The JKKAS agreed on strategies to control river water quality, covering legal aspects, governance, and technology applications through short-, medium-, and long-term actions. The meeting was attended by various officials, including the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who serves as JKKAS chairman, state menteris besar, water-related executive council members, and state water regulatory bodies. The JKKAS plays a crucial role in ensuring that measures and actions for managing and implementing strategies t o improve river water quality are undertaken in an integrated manner. It also acts as a platform for sharing information and best practices to enhance river water quality. Source: BERNAMA News Agency