Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng said there were several laws on water pollution, including the Water Services Industry Act 2006, Local Government Act 1967 and Environmental Quality Act 1974, and the enforcement of these laws involved different agencies.

“If we want an effective law, its implementation and enforcement needs to remove any (form of) ambiguity.

“I suggest that only one Act should cover the offence of those who pollute the nation’s waterways. Similar laws in other Acts should be repealed,” she said in a statement.

Ng, who heads a special select committee on Selangor’s water resources, also said the consolidation of laws would help clarify the laws that should be used against those responsible for water pollution.

Her comments come after natural resources, environment and climate change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad proposed increasing the punishment for water pollution from RM100,000 to RM10 million and the maximum jail time from one year to 15 years, or both.

Ng also said that on top of increasing the fines, the amendments should also suggest a minimum fine.

River pollution is a recurring problem in Selangor, leading to unscheduled water cuts in the Klang Valley.