Formulation of Water Supply Policy and Law In Kedah: The Role of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (1960-1964)

Abstract

This study aims to examine the formulation of policies and laws related to water supply management
in Kedah through debates in the Kedah State Legislative Assembly between 1960 and 1964. The main
objective of this study is to analyze how representatives of the people use legislative power in the
State Legislative Assembly. Kedah to form a water policy, paying particular attention to aspects of
infrastructure development, water distribution between urban and rural areas, as well as the tension
between the state government and the federal government in managing water resources. This study
uses a qualitative methodology with a content analysis approach to primary sources such as hansard
and official state government documents. Through an in-depth analysis of this debate, the study
examines the interaction between politics, post-colonial development, and the management of water
resources as a limited public resource. According to the research findings, the Kedah State Assembly
debate is not just about the technical aspects of managing the water supply; it is also a political tactic
used to garner support and maintain political stability during that time. This study advances a more
comprehensive knowledge of how laws affect Malaysia’s natural resource development. This study is
important in the current context because it shows how political influence and the implementation of
water laws affect access and distribution of water. In the current water situation in Malaysia, the issue
of water management imbalance is still relevant, the imbalance between urban and rural development
continues to be a major challenge. This study also provides legal insights by revealing shortcomings in
legislative formulation and the uneven standardisation of water laws, while at the same time exposing
the power dynamics between the state and federal governments that shaped the law-making process.
More transparent standardization of water laws and fair implementation, as suggested by this study,
could help ensure wider access to clean water across the country.