Melaka adopts IR 4.0 technology to reduce WTP operations cost

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said the shift to IR 4.0 technology was necessitated by the rapid development that has resulted in the increasing demand for clean water while the state government is now actively increasing the state's economic income by attracting more foreign investors to Melaka.

He said among the efforts to adapt IR 4.0 technology was through the Fifth Business Plan themed 'Towards Smart Water Management' which includes the installation of Smart Customer Meters that uses RFID technology.

This is important, especially with the opening of the new phase of existing industries like Infineon, Texas Instrument and Xingyi which is seen as a positive economic development in Melaka, thus proving that these large industries are confident in the Melaka state government's ability to provide good basic needs.

"Therefore, as a water stress state, where rapid development has caused a stronger demand for clean water, Melaka has started efforts to explore new raw water sources through the cooperation between Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad (SAMB) and Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd," he said.

Sulaiman said this at the launching of the Kompak Chin Chin Jasin 3 water treatment plant (WTP), which was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.

Meanwhile, Sulaiman said the RM40 million Air Chin Chin WTP which was constructed using the compact system with a capacity of 30 million litres a day, would benefit some 26,000 account holders registered under SAMB in the Jasin since it began operations in April 2022.

The construction of the plant is seen as one of SAMB's initiatives to stabilise the supply of clean water in the state while waiting for the construction of large-scale projects to be completed like the construction of Phase Two Merlimau Water Treatment Plant and the construction of Air Jernih Water Treatment Plant in the Alor Gajah district," he said.

Sulaiman also said the state government hoped that an additional allocation can be given to the Melaka state government to carry out the raw water transfer project from Sungai Rembau to the Durian Tunggal Dam because it has the potential of optimising the pumping of raw water sources to Melaka.

He said the project was seen as able to help reduce electrical costs borne by SAMB because of the longer pumping distance from Sungai Muar to the Durian Tunggal Dam which is 70 kilometers away.

In the meantime, Sulaiman said he also hoped the federal government can reconsider the state's application to change the value of the three raw water assets handed over to the state government namely, Durian Tunggal Dam, Jus Dam and Asahan Dam with a total value of RM240 million to be converted into grant in order to reduce SAMB liabilities.