96 / 130
[
] 96
A B
et ter
W
or ld
Strategies for transforming the
Malaysian water sector
Shahrizaila Abdullah, Fateh Chand, Salmah Zakaria and P Loganathan, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
M
alaysia is a constitutional monarchy and a
federation of 14 states, including one federal
territory, with each state granted autonomy in
the management of its natural resources. Since the early
1990s, Malaysia has embarked on its
Vision 2020
to attain
Developed Nation status by the year 2020.
Renewed efforts to accelerate the process of achieving this
goal were made in 2010 with the launching of the National
Transformation Programme (NTP) comprising a Government
Transformation Programme (GTP) and an Economic
Transformation Programme (ETP). The ETP comprises 12
National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) representing economic
sectors considered significant in contributing to gross national
income and job creation. However, the water sector had not
been included as an NKEA, despite its importance nationally as
a resource for both livelihood and its supporting of all sectors
of the economy.
In order to correct this oversight, the Academy of Sciences
Malaysia (ASM), the country’s leading thought leader in
science, technology and innovation, has since 2008, under-
taken in-depth thematic studies pertaining to the water
sector on a range of topics such as river basin management;
lake basin management; groundwater management; water
supply and wastewater management; water demand manage-
ment; water research and development; agriculture water
management; water and climate change; and urban water
management. These studies were further complemented by
desk studies and expert reviews on auxiliary topics such
as water and land use; water and health; water and green
growth; water and gender; science and technology awareness;
advocacy and capacity building; virtual water; and the water-
food-energy nexus.
The extensive knowledge base gained through these studies
enabled ASM to develop a comprehensive strategy to address
the issues and challenges facing the Malaysian water sector.
These efforts have resulted in ASM publishing a two-volume
report entitled:
Transforming the Water Sector: National
Integrated Water Resources Management Plan – Strategies and
Road Map
which was formally launched by the Honourable
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia in
December 2016.
The 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) under the Economic Transformation Programme
Image: ASM