KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 — The government aims to improve the Water Quality Index (WQI) of 33 rivers identified as polluted in 2025 by at least 10 per cent within a year, with appropriate recognition to be given to state governments that achieve the target.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the target was set at the second 2026 meeting of the National Special Committee on Addressing River Water Quality Deterioration, which he chaired today.

Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said Department of Environment (DOE) reports showed that the number of polluted rivers rose from 25 in 2023 to 27 in 2024 and 33 in 2025.

In Selangor, the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) reported 144 cases of water source pollution detected over the three years up to September 14, 2026, with varying levels of risk.