Hi river

SINGAPORE: There have been seven pollution incidents along the Johor River since 2017 that caused PUB's Johor River Waterworks to be temporarily shut down, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli on Monday (May 6). Mr Masagos said this in a written response to parliamentary questions by Member of Parliament Seah Kian Peng on the impact that prolonged stoppage of the water treatment plant's operations had on Singapore, as well as Singapore's obligations to provide treated water to Johor under such a scenario. "PUB will shut down its Johor River Waterworks when the Johor River is affected by pollution upstream of our waterworks," said Mr Masagos. READ: Johor water treatment plant shut indefinitely due to high ammonia readings READ: Singapore raises concerns over Johor river, seeks sustainable water supply for both countries "Johor also has water treatment plants along the Johor River, upstream of the Johor River Waterworks, and will shut … [Read more...] about PUB’s Johor River Waterworks temporarily shut down in 7 pollution incidents since 2017: Masagos

PATGRAM, Bangladesh: Mohammed Mukul Hossine’s passion for poetry began with a small transistor radio. As a boy, home for his family of 10 was a small tin shed in the middle of a lush floodplain. In the fields around it, his father grew rice, jute or beans and potatoes, depending on the season, while the family’s milk goats and cows roamed freely. Almost everyone in this county at the northern border of Bangladesh was – and still is – a farmer. Barely one in four could read or write. Little Mukul knew nothing about music and art. So when his older brother passed him a small black radio and, for the first time, he heard Bengali folk songs playing on the local station, Mukul was shaken to his soul. He stopped kicking balls or going to the river with his friends. Instead, the six-year-old would sit in the shade with his sister, listening and singing along to all his favourite songs. Sometimes, when he got bored of singing the same lyrics, he would make up his own. And … [Read more...] about His double life as a construction worker and a ‘famous poet’ in Singapore – and the price he paid

THIS is the jaw-dropping moment an Aussie bloke shoos off a gigantic 16ft crocodile off an Outback walking track with just his CAP. Outback wrangler Matt Wright can be heard saying "go on mate" and "good boy" as he calmly moves the ferocious beast on in the incredible video captured at Sweets Lagoon near Darwin. In the clip, Matt, star of National Geographic's Outback Wrangler, waves his cap at the beast in a bid to get him back in the water. Seemingly out of luck, Matt then waves a small branch at the crocodile - known as Sweets Lagoons resident alpha 'Otis'. "Go on mate, go on," he says, seeing the croc flail his tail in the air. Annoyed at the wrangler's pestering, Otis begins to make its way to the nearest river. "Go, come on. Get out," Matt adds as the creature slowly disappears into the water. After successfully coaxing the 2204lb beast away, the Aussie TV star says: "Good boy." And despite what most would class as a tense situation to find themselves in, … [Read more...] about Jaw-dropping moment Aussie bloke shoos gigantic 16ft crocodile off an outback walking track with just his CAP

SINGAPORE: Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday (May 8) warned that the "biggest threat" to the sustainability of the Johor River was a lack of environmental protection, as he urged Malaysia to safeguard water quality for the benefit of both sides. "The biggest threat to Johor's own water supply is actually the lack of environmental protection," Dr Balakrishnan told Parliament. "And the seven episodes since 2017 ... are a clear and present amber warning light." The minister was referring to the seven pollution incidents that caused PUB's Johor River Waterworks to be temporarily shut down. The most recent case was on Apr 4, when high levels of ammonia were found in the Johor River. He noted that the PUB plant and two other water treatment plants belonging to Malaysia were "currently drawing more water from the Johor River (than it) can yield on a sustainable basis". Dr Balakrishnan was responding to questions from Members of Parliament regarding the … [Read more...] about Biggest threat to Johor River’s sustainability is lack of environmental protection: Vivian Balakrishnan

SINGAPORE: Johor’s new state executive council line-up will have its hands full dealing with two urgent issues – river pollution and the congestion at the Causeway linking the southern state to Singapore, a political analyst said. The state’s newly appointed chief minister Sahruddin Jamal unveiled his new line-up on Monday , bringing in fresh faces to fill key positions such as transport and environment. Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) Tenang assemblyman Mohd Solihan Badri took over the Public Works, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee from Puteri Wangsa assemblyman Mazlan Bujang while Democratic Action Party’s Jementah assemblyman Tan Chen Choon will helm the Local Government, Urban Wellbeing and Environment Committee, which was held by Skudai assemblyman Tan Hong Pin. Associate Professor Ahmad Marthada Mohamed told CNA that the new appointments for these specific portfolios are a clear indication that the team is looking to give “immediate attention” to the … [Read more...] about New Johor executive council expected to prioritise river pollution, Causeway congestion: Analyst