Govt to make MyDams technical guidance mandatory — Nik Nazmi

Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad delivers his speech during the opening ceremony of the Langat and Taman Eko Langat Centralised Sewage Treatment Plant (LRK) in Kajang, on February 22, 2023. — Picture by BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 – The government plans to make the Malaysia Dam Safety Management Guidelines (MyDams) a mandatory requirement in the near future, said Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

“It is our hope that these guidelines will be fully utilised by asset managers and the ministry is working towards making this guideline a mandatory requirement in the near future,” he said in his speech during the Water Malaysia 2023 Specialised Conference and Exhibition, here, yesterday.

He said the guidelines are to ensure standardised instructions for dam inspection and maintenance that guarantees that dams do not fail and to take proactive action for the 104 dams available, including the Sg Merah Dam in Perak, which is the oldest dam built in 1906.

He added that each sector and individual should work together to maintain the infrastructural assets as water and sewerage assets are crucial both as a public service as well as for nation-building.

“Hence, it is the duty of these assets’ custodians to provide the necessary maintenance and care as part and parcel of their environment and social governance (ESG) commitment in order to minimise the risk of structural failure and help ensure safety of the public,” he said.

MyDams was developed by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage and published in 2017 to provide technical guidance for dam inspection.

Nik Nazmi further said a change of mindset was needed where a sense of custodianship and an understanding of the impact of actions all round, as well as the responsibility, must be borne equally by the private sector, individuals and the government.

Govt to make MyDams technical guidance mandatory — Nik Nazmi - Selangor Journal