The move to strengthen water and energy industry infrastructure under the recently tabled 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) is a step towards the right direction, said Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER) president S. Piarapakaran

He said many of the recommendations given by the association had also been largely adapted into the plan.

“Most of our recommendations are included in the plan and we are happy,” he told Astro AWANI today following the tabling of the 11MP in the Parliament by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today.

Piarapakaran said for example, this was the first time the plan included water gazetting in water catchment area which is a good development.

“One of the plan under the ‘continuing the transition to a new water services industry framework’ is for 99 per cent of the population to be served by clean and treated water by 2020.

“This plan not only covers densely populated areas but also rural areas. If Sabah and Sarawak is included in it, I am confident we can reach 100 per cent, depending on the effort put in it,” he said adding that the government is also looking at a future plan for flood mitigation in 11MP.

In the energy sector, Piarapakaran said targeting EURO 4M and EURO 5 standards for clean fuel and B15 biodiesel will greatly reduce emission from transportation.

“At the moment, transportation is the number one energy user in Malaysia.

“Together with the EURO 4M and EURO 5, an increase in the usage of public transport and energy-efficient vehicles, it will further reduce these emission,” he said.

Under the strengthening infrastructure to support economic expansion thrust, there are five focus including encouraging sustainable energy use to support growth and improving coverage, quality and affordability of digital infrastructure.

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