KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor folk today took to social media to express their “jealousy” after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) announced the discovery of water on the moon.
US molecular biologist Raven Baxter tweeted the discovery, expecting enthusiastic replies from science geeks, instead she got a slew of complaints by Selangor netizens about water supply in the state.
“Water has been found on the moon! Breaking news from Nasa! These aren’t puddles of water, but they found water molecules,” Baxter tweeted.
Twitter user Adib Afdzal, who uploaded a photo of residents lining up with buckets to collect water, captioned it “meanwhile in Selangor”.
We are celebrating water being found on the moon, but a significant portion of the retweets on this are from people in Selangor (Malaysia) experiencing a major water supply disruption due to pollution in raw water sources. We are not even meeting basic water needs on EARTH. https://t.co/JJrxcrNYel
— Raven the Science Maven (@ravenscimaven) October 27, 2020
Some users say due to the ongoing conditional movement control order (CMCO), residents are not allowed to leave the state, let alone the planet.
Baxter is also recognised as a global influencer in Fortune Magazine's 40 Under 40 list for 2020.
Her focus is aimed at creating a space in the science community that are "inclusive, educational and real".
Responding to replies on her Twitter by Selangor folk, she acknowledged that people in the state have been experiencing water supply disruptions.
"We are celebrating water being found on the moon, but a significant portion of the retweets on this are from people in Selangor (Malaysia) experiencing a major water supply disruption due to pollution in raw water sources. We are not even meeting basic water needs on EARTH," she tweeted.
Taking a swipe at politicians, she said leaders who do not prioritise clean water for their people should be embarassed.
The recent months saw Klang Valley faced with water supply disruptions due to burst pipes, maintenance works and river pollution.
The Selangor government has taken steps, including the deployment of drones to monitor water sources, and rewards to whistleblowers who have information on polluters.
Meanwhile, Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the government would consider increasing the number of riverside reservoirs to ensure a second source during possible supply disruptions. – The Vibes, October 28, 2020
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