Focus is on WST2040, making water sector economic source, says Nik Nazmi

KUALA LUMPUR: Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad will focus on the implementation of Water Sector Transformation 2040 (WST 2040) towards making the water sector an economic source and Malaysia a global water hub by 2040.

He said the focus would be on efforts to increase water supply access, especially in rural areas and islands, to 98 per cent by the end of the 12th Malaysia Plan.

Nik Nazmi said access has reached 97 per cent presently.

"The focus is also on increasing coverage of sewerage services to 90 per cent, reducing non-revenue water rate to 25 per cent by 2025 and increasing the financial sustainability of the water sector so that investment and continuous improvement of services to users can be improved," he told reporters after the opening of the AsiaWater 2022 Expo and Forum here Thursday (Dec 8).

He said strategies and action plans to achieve the target will be worked on carefully in the implementation of WST 2040.

Nik Nazmi said the ministry will also focus on four main agendas in national water management.

They include guaranteeing continuous and sustainable water supply for the people, improving the financial sustainability of the national water industry, improving access to water supply and the efficiency of water industry operations and enhancing the resilience of the water sector against climate change, he said.

He said the ministry will also intensify efforts to deal with flood issues through structural and non-structural approaches.

They involve large investments from the government, including upgrading flood retention walls, maintenance of flood reservoirs, water control gates, fixed and mobile pumps, monitoring cameras as well as forecast and warning systems, he added. - Bernama