”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.

JOINT PRESS RELEASE - 23RD ANNUAL EXCHANGE OF VISITS, 7 MAY 2010, MALAYSIA

As part of the Annual Exchange of Visits (AEV) between the Environment Ministries of Malaysia and Singapore, H.E. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources visited Malaysia on 7-8 May 2010 at the invitation of H.E. Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

2. Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas led the Malaysian delegation which comprised Dato’ Zoal Azha bin Yusof, Secretary-General (Natural Resources and Environment) and other senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Environment and other Government agencies.

3. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim’s visiting delegation comprised Dr. Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tan Yong Soon, Permanent Secretary (Environment and Water Resources) and other senior officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, National Environment Agency, PUB and other government agencies.

4. During the visit, the two Ministers reviewed the progress of work carried out by the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE). There were fruitful discussions and exchanges of views on the following areas of cooperation:

MALAYSIA GREEN FORUM 2010

1. First of all I would like to express my deepest gratitude to YABhg Tun Jeanne Abdullah, Chairman of Landskap Malaysia for inviting me to officiate the closing ceremony of Malaysia Green Forum 2010. I have been told that for the past 2 days, the forum went on well with a lot of ideas being shared, deliberated and exchanged.

2. I must congratulate the organisers for having this noble vision of protecting and conserving our beautiful Malaysian environment, both for present and future generations. I sincerely believe that with the theme Greener and Sustainable Malaysia, the forum has addressed some very important and pertinent environmental issues that in the past have either been ignored or taken for granted.

3. This forum is even more appropriate since, 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity as declared by the United Nations with the theme “Biodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life”. It is the year of celebration of life on Earth and of the often overlooked and under-estimated value of biodiversity in our daily lives. Biodiversity is the main source for the many products that not only enrich the quality of our life but also meets our basic need such as food, clothing and shelter. Besides providing products biodiversity also provides a wide array of services. Biodiversity services play a huge role in sustaining life on this planet and is valued at about US33 trillion a year. We have always taken this biodiversity products and services for granted. Besides that, in this Bio era, biodiversity has a huge role in new wealth creation for the nation among others through biotechnology. The New Economic Model gives a clarion call for the need to leverage on our rich biodiversity in a sustainable manner for harnessing this sector for greater contribution to the nation’s economy.
4. The world is facing numerous environmental issues that have far reaching implications for our survival on this one and only planet for mankind. Issues such as biodiversity loss, air and water pollution, indiscriminate dumping of toxic wastes, wildlife extinction and climate change have all caught the attention of world governments, policy makers, academia and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). International conventions and agreements have been formulated to address these issues. Malaysia as a responsible global citizen too is committed to resolving these issues in the domestic front.

5. As the lead agency responsible for natural resources and environment, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is duty bound to ensure that the management and conservation of our natural resources and the environment are carried out holistically and effectively. To achieve this, we have put in place various laws, policies, regulations, guidelines and mechanisms.

6. In this regard, the Ministry is currently leading several initiatives aimed at addressing resource management and sustainability. The National Policy on Climate Change that will be launched shortly contains elements critical to resource use efficiency and waste reduction, both of which are central to the concept of sustainability. The roadmap for reducing Malaysia’s emissions intensity of GDP by up to 40% of 2005 levels by 2020 will also enhance sustainability in many sectors.

7. I am also happy to mention too that in conjunction with the International Year of Biodiversity my Ministry has just launched another planting campaign of 26 million trees nationwide beginning on April 22nd 2010. This planting program is not merely a symbol, but in fact, is a tangible expression of our commitment towards preserving the environment while adding value to our biodiversity and increasing the supply of oxygen in our atmosphere.