”Efficient Management of Water Resources: An Agenda for the Future”

Salam 1 Malaysia,

There is increasing concern among policy makers, researchers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) worldwide about increasing threats to global water resources and worsening water-related problems. An estimated 1.1 billion people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water. This situation could worsen as clean water resources become more limited due to increase in water demand for domestic, industrial and irrigation needs. Faced with water shortage, millions of people worldwide rely on unsafe sources for their daily needs. This lack of clean and safe water in many parts of the world has lead to disease outbreaks such as cholera, typhoid fever and many other water related diseases. The potential impact of climate change on global water resources is expected to further worsen the situation.

2. Similarly there is also concern among all stakeholders in Malaysia about the threats to the country’s water resources although we are blessed we abundant water resources with 3000 mm of annual rainfall. We are being confronted with numerous issues related to water resources such as inadequate quantity in certain areas, degrading water quality of rivers, lakes and ground water, uneven distribution, floodings, and droughts. These problems are further excerbated by institutional fragmentation, disuniformity in legislations, lack of enforcement and absence of a national policy on water resource.

3. Water resource management in this country whether it is at the federal or state level, is still sectorally managed. This approach often results in overlappings and conflicts among the stakeholders especailly when it comes to the implementation of water development projects. The disparity and disuniformity in the present legislations and enactments adopted by the states further aggravates the existing problems.

4. Another worrying concern is with regard to the demand for water which will increase with increase in human population, urbanisation and rapid development. According to the National Water Resources Study 2000, the counry’s water requirement will increase by 63 % from 11 billion m3 (2008) to 17.7 billlion m3 (2050). The challenge to meet this increase will be be compounded with the phenomenon of climate change which may affect our country’s clean water availability in the years to come.

5. In order to address the above issues, the Malaysian government will definitely need to adopt a holistic and integrated approach to manage the country’s water resources. The scope of water resources management encompasses a wide range of disciplines and expertise including water supply, irrigation, flood risk management, drought risk management, coastal zone management, environment, drainage and hydropower. In our pursuit for an integrated approach towards water resources management, we must also take into account socioeconomic, environmental and technical aspects

6. Therefore time as come for us to review the entire spectrum of the management of the water resources These would include preserving and distributing the resources, ensuring appropriate policy and legislation as well as streamlining the institutional set-up. Developed countries like Japan, Korea and most of European countries have long adopted this integrated approach.

7. In this respect, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has initiatied the formulation of a National Water Resources Policy. This Policy amongst other things, will look into the establishment of new institutional arrangements and mechanisms to manage our water resources sustainably. Among the functions of this proposed new institutional arrangement include:

i. Optimising the distribution of water resource to all stakeholders;

ii. Ensuring effective planning and implementation of related development to ensure sustainable use of water resources s; and

iii. Implementing integrated water resource management (IWRM) principles.

8. Apart from the above reforms in the proposed National Water Policy, emphasis will also be placed on meeting the peoples’ needs so that water is made more accessible and affordable. In other words, water resources management activities will take into account the social obligation to the general public. At the same time, the public from all walks of life will also have to assume responsibility for the sustainable use and management of water resources. Thus, a paradigm shift in conceptualizing, developing and managing the action plans will become the pre-requisite for the sustainable use and development of our water resources in the future.9. Besides the above efforts, my Ministry together with the Department of Drainage and Irrigation (DID) have initiated the review of the National Water Resources Study (2000-2050). This review will focus on the availability and demand for water by all sectors in the country. Apart from this, in line with the principles of Rio Declaration, the government has also actively implemented some programmes on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to ensure water resources are sustainably managed.


10. In this regard, the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department and DID have also completed a study on “Effective Implementation of Integrated Water Resources in Malaysia” in 2008. Based on the findings and recommendations of the study, the DID has commenced the implementation of nine Best Management Practices (BMPs) to enhance public awareness and capacity building under various themes of IWRM. The experiences from these BMPs will be documented for use and reference by other river basin stakeholders for similar IWRM themes. The nine IWRM BMP projects that have been identified are:

• Sungai Liwagu, Sabah - Sabah Water Resources Enackment 1998 (Pesticide control)
• Matahari Height, Seremban - Flood – Flood Detention Pond as Community Park
• N-Park Kondominium, P. Pinang - “Nega Litres” – Water Saving
• Lembangan Sg Miri, Sarawak – River Basin Management Institution
• Sg Melaka, Alor Gajah – River Corridor management – Political Advocacy
• Sg Langat, Selangor - WaterBorne Diseases Management
• Batang Lemanak, Sarawak - Biodiversity Management
• Alor Baung, Kota Bharu – Groundwater Management
• Sg Galing Besar, Kuantan – River Corridor Management – Regulating pollution

11. I would like to reiterate again that we should treat water issues systematically and stop managing water sectorally by its separate users. This will require us to coordinate with different sectoral users for sustainable water resources management. For example, we should now link all land use policies and management with water resources management. In implementing our intervention measures, we must move from curative to preventive approach to prevent water issues and problems from occurring. In this way we will be able to minimize requirements for remediation, mitigation, rehabilitation and restoration of our fragile water resources.

Thanks You

Sumber : Diedit daripada TEKS UCAPAN YB DATO’ SRI DOUGLAS UGGAH EMBAS

SEMINAR ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

”Efficient Management of Water Resources: An Agenda for the Future”

10 DAN 11 MEI 2010, INTAN BUKIT KIARA, KUALA LUMPUR

(Dibacakan oleh Y.Bhg Datuk Aziyah Mohamed, TKSU I)