The National Water Commission (Span) has urged the Kedah and federal governments to declare Sungai Muda in Kedah a "strategic river".

Its chairperson Charles Santiago proposed several measures including cordoning off 30m on both sides of the river, installing CCTV and posting security guards to protect it.

"This has become a security issue. We have to make sure that the water is protected, that no one has access to dump illegal wastes in or near the river," he told Malaysiakini when contacted....