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access
to
water
and
sanitation
for
all
Located in the tropics, Malaysia has abundant rainfall.
Studies have shown that the adequate provision of quality
water to meet the country’s short-, medium- and long-
term needs is not dependent on the availability of water
resources but on the provision of sound management and
good governance at both national and state levels. Some
of the water-related issues and challenges that need to be
addressed nationwide are outlined as follows: regional water
stress affecting some of the water-deficient states; flooding
as a result of seasonal torrential rains brought by south-
west and north-east monsoons; pollution of water sources
in lakes and rivers coupled with environmental degradation
as a result of large-scale land development, urbanisation
and industrialisation; fragmented management and conflict
among sub-sectors; and impending climate change impacts.
In short, since gaining independence in 1957, Malaysia has,
through investments in water infrastructure over sequen-
tial five-year development plans, successfully ensured that
water has been adequately and progressively provided for
people, food production, agriculture and rural development,
economic development, and energy.
Penetration of clean water supply and sanitation currently
averages 95% of households nationwide. Disruptions have
occurred only during extreme drought conditions, leading
to water rationing in some states. On the other hand, the
studies also indicate that the country has fallen short in
sustainably managing its water resources. Despite a formal
declaration and adoption of the Integrated Water Resources
Management (IWRM) policy since the turn of the century,
its implementation to date has yet to gain adequate traction
on a national scale.
Only minimal and sporadic successes have been reported.
Notable achievements are: the establishment of the National
Water Resources Council in 1998, an apex body chaired by
the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, charged
to oversee water resources management at national level; the
legislation of a contemporary Waters Enactment
1
in the state of
Selangor in the year 2000; the creation of the Federal Ministry
for Natural Resources and Environment in 2004, ensuring the
separation of powers between water resources management
and water utilities provision; the rationalisation of the water
services industry through the passing of the Water Services
Industry Act and the Water Services Commission Act in 2006;
and the launching of a long overdue National Water Resources
Policy in 2012.
However, the legacy of fragmented management prevails
at national level and the situation in the states is no better,
with few exceptions. This can be attributed largely to govern-
ance issues stemming from the lack of a robust and uniform
policy, and a legislative and institutional framework for the
holistic management of the country’s water resources both
at federal and state administration levels.
Against this, ASM’s initiative in undertaking comprehen-
sive studies of the water sector, leading to the formulation
and launching of the two-volume report, was indeed timely.
Apart from complementing the NTP and ETP, the strategies
and roadmap represent critical inputs in meeting Malaysia’s
commitment to post-2015 SDGs pertaining to SDG 6 and
The water problem
Population
increase
Increased
economic
activity
Finite, renewable,
yet vulnerable
water resource
Increased water use and
increased pollution
•
Increased competition and conflicts (local, national, international)
•
Sectoral (fragmented) management
•
Impacts of climate change
The Hon. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Wilfred Madius
Tangau (third from left) launching the report with Academy of Sciences
Malaysia President, Ahmad Tajuddin Ali. With them are (from left) Chief
Editor, Shahrizaila Abdullah and Secretary General, Ministry of Science,
Technology and Innovation, Mohd Azhar Yahaya
The National Water Resources Council, established in 1998, holding its
12th meeting on 2 August 2017, chaired by the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister
of Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Source: ASM
Image: ASM
Image: ASM