Photo: Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The country has a moral duty to tackle its water challenges head-on or it will end up with a major water crisis in the future, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Speaking at the Future Leaders of Water Sustainability Symposium 2024 here on Thursday (May 9), the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister said water transformation should be continuous to ensure water sustainability for future generations.
"A pressing challenge lies in ensuring a continuous and adequate water supply, especially in drought-stricken regions, where existing water resources face heightened pressure. This poses significant reliability challenges for domestic, agricultural, and industrial needs.
“Simultaneously, intense rainfall and flooding events pose risks to water infrastructure, disrupting supply chains and compromising water quality,” said Fadillah, who also pointed out that there is an urgent need for climate-resilient water management strategies and guarding against water pollution from industrial discharges and agricultural runoff.
“Water security transcends mere access to clean water; it embodies a commitment to social justice and ecological integrity. Similarly, Malaysia also faces significant challenges regarding drinking water quality and availability, highlighted by past water disruption incidents due to pollution.
“These challenges are not just statistics but represent individuals and communities directly impacted by water scarcity and pollution. Therefore it is imperative to recognise the voices of those affected and address their needs effectively.
“Behind these challenges lies stories of resilience and struggle, affecting farmers and rural communities disproportionately. Access to clean water isn't just an issue of policy or economics; it is a moral imperative demanding our urgent attention and unwavering commitment,” said Fadillah, pointing out that the financial toll of water scarcity looms large.
The Deputy Prime Minister also launched the Forward Faster for Water Resilience Initiative in Malaysia with Duopharma Biotech Bhd's Group Managing Director, Leonard Ariff making CEO water mandate pledge as the first local signatory.
Prior to the pledge at the same event, Duopharma's CEO, Corporate, Anas Alam Faizli shared how the company has been conserving water through best practices.
The Forward Faster initiative aims to increase accountability and transparency by calling for companies to publicly declare their commitments and highlight the actions they will undertake to meet the targets. Companies committing to the targets will be required to report on progress annually to the UN Global Compact.
At the same event, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, Karima El Korri said water availability does not mean that the water is well managed.
“There are 1.1 billion people worldwide still lacking access to clean water and this is intimately linked to poverty, health and nutrition issues. Global data show that girls and women spend 200 million hours every day to collect water,” said Karima.
She pointed out that while water management can be expensive, blended partnerships between private and public sectors as well as businesses and consumers can come in to manage water in an effective manner for a win-win solution.
Karima also pointed out that water quality in Malaysia can differ from territory to territory and state to state, and this should be addressed for equitable access.
Bank Negara Malaysia Sustainability Unit deputy director Suraya Sani pointed out that there are nature-related financial risks should there be compromises in water sustainability.
She painted the picture of how ecosystems play a vital role in affecting the depreciation of natural assets, which may contribute to financial losses among banks.
The one-day symposium was also attended by Subang Jaya state assemblywoman Michelle Ng Mei Sze and National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Charles Santiago.
