Kuala Lumpur: The Federal Government has allocated RM796.4 million in loans to state governments this year to finance various water supply projects. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof stated that these projects are part of the government’s effort to mitigate the impact of the Southwest Monsoon, which is anticipated to bring dry weather and potential drought conditions.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadillah, who also serves as the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, mentioned that as of May this year, 28 projects under this initiative are currently underway. These projects are spread across several regions, with 12 in Sabah, two in Kedah and Perlis, one in Kelantan, three in Pahang and Terengganu, and five in Sarawak. He noted that these projects are at various stages of completion, with some under implementation and seven expected to be completed within the year.

Fadillah emphasized that his ministry is prioritizing the resolution of the non-revenue water (NRW) issue, which arises from factors such as system inefficiencies, pipe leakages, and water theft. He highlighted that poorly installed pipe connections and aging pipes contribute to leakages, leading to an estimated loss of 40 percent of the country’s treated water and incurring high costs. The ministry’s current focus is on identifying methods to reassess piping systems and replace damaged pipes to address these challenges.