SPAN wants stiffer jail terms, fines over death penalty for water polluters
PETALING JAYA: The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) says the
death sentence for those who purposely contaminate water sources is not
practical and has proposed stiff jail sentences and fines for offenders
instead.
The Water Services Industry Act (WSIA) 2006 provides for the death
penalty to be imposed for pollution of rivers, streams and creeks, seas,
lakes, groundwater, dams, reservoirs, ditches and drains, or
imprisonment of up to 20 years.
If death is not caused, whipping can be imposed.
SPAN chairman Charles Santiago acknowledged that the death penalty
was not the solution, and proposed life imprisonment instead, given the
debate in the country over whether the death penalty should be
abolished.
He also proposed more severe jail sentences and higher fines, saying
the sums meted out by the courts today were “affordable”, whereas fines
running into the millions would be a deterrent.
Recently, environmentalist Saha Deva had said poor enforcement was to
blame for cases of water contamination or pollution, besides corruption
and the focus on profit over sustainability.
He said he had not heard of the death penalty being imposed despite
WSIA being an “extremely powerful law” which could make a difference in
protecting the country’s water resources.
Saha also accused government agencies involved in environmental matters of lacking the will to pursue such matters.
Santiago, who defended SPAN against criticism of its enforcement
policies, said no death penalty had been imposed because no deaths had
occurred as a result of water contamination.
He said there were strict requirements under the law and each case must be proven based on facts.
He also said SPAN would seek to introduce education on water
conservation in primary and secondary schools as well as start a massive
awareness programme to educate people on water conservation. – Free Malaysia Today, 11/8/2019
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