When Will We Ever Learn? When Will We Ever Learn?

“Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink.” *

That must have been in the minds of thousands of residents in the Klang Valley who suffered a triple whammy within a spate of 8 days.

26th Feb flooding
4th March water pollution
1st March Fuel prices increase

If you are familiar with horseracing, you will know that there is a handicapping system whereby successful racers have to carry more weights so that it gives all horses a chance of winning. Even golfing has a handicap system.

In a way, all our woes could be a form of a divine handicap. God sees that He has blessed Malaysia with an overabundance of natural resources and therefore gives us incompetents to be in charge so that things can get screwed up a little. After all, paradise is only to be enjoyed in the afterlife if you believe in such a concept.

The water pollution fiasco is plain for all to see. We or rather the authorities have given licences to companies to simply supply whatever they can pump into our supply lines. This means that even if mercury or arsenic is available, “Semua OK”.

Perhaps a few thousand people have to die before people take their responsibilities seriously. How could these people be so callous and not have acceptable standards before the water is passed to the unsuspecting consumers?

Maybe we should blame the Minister in charge of the companies supplying the water. After all, they have approved the systems of having different water treatment and supply companies to handle the water distribution.

We cannot but observe that the overall system has been extremely unsatisfactory and consumers are the ones to suffer.

Now if water that is used everyday can have so many problems and incompetent management, we should also be inspecting thoroughly the operations of PETRONAS that has been shrouded in the greatest secrecy. After all, even our DPM says it is for “the benefit of future generations”.

For the sake of future generations, we the people should know how this national treasure has been safeguarded and whether or not future generations can look forward to anything if all the wealth has been squandered.

For that committee studying what caused the water pollution, here is an important resource by the WHO.

Even students have been able to develop a site on water management.

Regarding the water pollution, I would guess that the landfill is the main suspect. The heavy rain would have taken a few days to pass through all that garbage and the contaminated water would have entered the river over a few days.

Locating a landfill in a place that drains into a water catchment area is surely a basic recipe for disaster.

Hopefully the words of Simon and Garfunkel will be answered with “SOON”.

photo: http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/12/21/22FLOOD_wideweb__470x262,0.jpg



*From The Ancient Mariner by S.T.Coleridge