DPM: Upstream development projects must factor in downstream impact
PUTRAJAYA: Land clearing, river alterations and water catchment development must consider the impact on downstream communities and not just within project boundaries, says Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The Deputy Prime Minister said upstream development decisions carry consequences far beyond project boundaries, with the country grappling with complex challenges involving floods, shifting rainfall patterns and climate change.
He said water resilience must remain a strategic national priority, shaping how towns are planned, land is managed, water catchments are protected and infrastructure investments are undertaken.
“What happens upstream has consequences downstream. A decision to clear land, alter a river or develop a catchment can affect communities far beyond the boundaries of a project,” he said when officiating the inaugural International Conference on Ecohydrology and Water Resilience (ICEWR 2026) here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said development decisions must consider the source of water, how it flowed and whom it affected, since water systems are interconnected regardless of administrative boundaries.
He said climate change, rapid urbanisation, growing water demand and increasing frequency of water-related challenges require greater foresight and coordination in managing the country’s water resources.
He also said dams, drainage networks and flood mitigation structures remain essential in protecting communities, but their effectiveness could be enhanced by preserving natural ecosystems.
“These structures remain essential in protecting our communities. Their effectiveness can be strengthened when we understand and preserve the natural systems around them,” he said.
He added that healthy water catchments play an important role in regulating water flows, while wetlands could store water, slow its movement and help filter pollutants.
Fadillah said nature-based solutions, when properly designed and maintained, can complement conventional engineering infrastructure in addressing water- related risks while delivering wider environmental benefits.
He emphasised the importance of closer cooperation among agencies responsible for water management, environmental protection, land-use planning and infrastructure development to ensure more effective and coordinated decisions.
“Water connects our actions, even when our administrative responsibilities are divided,” he added.
Fadillah said Malaysia has developed practical approaches to river management, flood mitigation, urban drainage and sustainable stormwater management, supported by research institutions and universities.
He cited three Unesco Ecohydrology Demonstration Sites as examples – Putrajaya Lake and Wetlands, the Sustainable Stormwater Management Project at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia in Johor, and Bio-Ecological Drainage System (Bioecods) at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang.
He said these sites served as platforms for researchers, policymakers and engineers to evaluate solutions and identify approaches that could be adapted elsewhere.
Fadillah also called for scientific evidence and practical experience to be incorporated into development planning and infrastructure investment, with successful solutions tested, evaluated and expanded where appropriate.
He said stronger partnerships, research and community participation are essential to achieving safer neighbourhoods, healthier rivers and cities better prepared for a changing climate.
The two-day conference was held under the theme “Ecohydrology and Water Resilience: Advancing Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Water Systems”, with 200 participants, who included policymakers, industry representatives, academicians and NGOs.
