1. Water Resource Management in Malaysia Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
Introduction Source: Gleick, P. H., 1996: Water resources. In
Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather, ed. by S. H.
Schneider, Oxford University Press, New York,
Water – a vital natural resource for every living vol. 2, pp.817-823.
organism on Earth, or in other words, a life
sustaining source for us. We have no way to Table 1: One estimate of global water distribution
survive without this simple molecule of H2O which Source:
seems to be plentiful and easily accessible http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Water/
anywhere and anytime. However, the unknown
truth is that, water is depleting and diminishing From Table 1, of the world’s total water supply of
every day, not slowly but on a drastic scale. about 1,386 million cubic kilometers, only 93,100
According to (Chan, 2005), water is expected to be cubic kilometers constitute surface-water sources
the main issue in the 21st century as this vital available for human use. This clearly shows that of
resource becomes increasingly polluted and scarce. the 1,386 million cubic kilometers, only 0.00672%
constitute fresh water supply (rivers and lakes) for
The importance of water can never make their way human consumption. Therefore, it is undeniable
thoroughly into the public’s mind. No matter how that water must be managed in a sustainable
many times we are reminded, water is still manner in line with socioeconomic development.
mismanaged, wasted and even polluted. Even with
Current State of Water Environment in
y
all these unfortunate truths, the demand of
freshwater is still increasing. The World Water Malaysia
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Council has pointed out that the demand for
freshwater resources double every 20 years or so. It In the year 2002, the Malaysian government
has been projected that by year 2050, 65 countries formulated and approved the Policy on the
will be hit by water supply problems with a total of Environment which integrates the three elements of
seven billions of people, or 60% of the world’s
population will suffer from water shortages.
O sustainable development: economic, social and
cultural development and environmental.
This policy serves as an important guideline to all
Percent Percent stakeholders to ensure that the environment is
Volume
ew
of Total of Fresh
(1000 km3) clean, safe, healthy and productive (The National
Water Water Policy on the Environment, 2002). Further to the
Oceans, Seas, implementation of the Policy, the Ministry of
1,338,000 96.5 - Natural Resources (NRE) was formed in 2004 to,
& Bays
among other objectives, coordinate natural
Ice caps, resources management in Malaysia.
vi
Glaciers, &
24,064 1.74 68.7
Permanent The total available internal water resources for
Snow Malaysia is 630,000 mcm/year and it is estimated
e
Groundwater 23,400 1.7 - that by the year 2025, the total demand will be
14,505 mcm/year compared to 1622 mcm/year in
Pr
Soil Moisture 16.5 0.001 0.05 2005 (State of Water Resources Management in
ASEAN, 2005). These findings prompted the
Ground Ice
300 0.022 0.86 Malaysian government to recognize that the
& Permafrost
demand of water is increasing and poor
Lakes 176.4 0.013 - management will deplete the water resources.
Fresh (91.0) (0.007) .26 Issues and Challenges in Managing Water
Saline (85.4) (0.006) - Environment
Atmosphere 12.9 0.001 0.04 Rizal’s report for WEPA (Rizal, 2007) states that
Swamp the major water related problems are identified in
11.47 0.0008 0.03 relevance to marine pollution, river pollution and
Water
overexploitation of resources. Domestic sewage
Rivers 2.12 0.0002 0.006 discharge in the form of treated sewage remains as
Biological a large contributor to organic pollution. Rizal also
1.12 0.0001 0.003 reported that pollution to the environment is caused
Water
mainly by a poor attitude of the public towards
Total 1,385,984 100.0 100.0 conservation efforts. Apart from that, the lack of
enforcement and monitoring of the industries and
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2. Water Resource Management in Malaysia Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
public are other challenges faced in managing concerned individuals with a non-profitable goal,
water resources. NGOs are more than willing to help the
government, if they are welcomed to. NGOs are
Malaysia, as a rainfall abundant country, should not able to come out with better and feasible solutions
have these complications. Due to the to reduce NRW compared to older solutions
mismanagement of water sourcing and supply, implemented. Besides large scale solutions, NGOs
many water crises have happened few years back in can also push the government to replace as many
different states. This clearly shows that the broken pipes as possible that have contributed to
government’s effort is insufficient to contain this NRW, or strongly publicize the hotline to report
problem in our country. Therefore, the involvement leakages and burst pipes.
of the public and NGOs in this matter is inevitable
to bring out a more efficient and sustainable By rough calculation, we find that the reduction of
management of water resources. NRW can reduce a significant amount of water
treatment operation cost and the excess money can
Solution – Involvement of NGOs be used for other purposes in the country. Based on
the Malaysia Water Industry Guide 2007, our
country’s total production of treated water for year
Reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) 2005 is 12468 MLD (million litres per day) and the
NRW of the same year is around 37.7% or 4700
Non-Revenue Water (NRW) or water that is lost
y
MLD. If the annual loss in revenue is based on the
through unaccountable ways once it leaves the current domestic price of water sold in Penang
treatment plant has always been one of the major Island which is RM 0.31 per m3, then the estimated
nl
problems in water resource management in loss in revenue per day will be RM 1.45 million, or
Malaysia. The average NRW for year 2005 is about an annual loss of RM 531.8 million. If NGOs are
37.7% for the whole country (Liew, 2008). able to help the government reduce NRW by 10%,
However, the percentage of NRW did not drop
after a few years, where it increase to an even
higher percentage, which was around 40% of the
O then for the same set of parameters, the government
is able to save at least RM 141 Million per year.
country’s total water usage in 2008. Based on the rough estimation, the involvement of
NGOs seems to be a feasible solution for NRW
ew
problem in water management in Malaysia,
because it can reduce our country’s losses, in terms
of water as a natural resource and also monetary
income. Thus, the government should allow NGOs
to help them in water management problem,
vi
especially in the reduction of NRW in the country.
Convincing the Public on Water Tariff Hike
e
Another way to reduce the usage of water is by
Pr
increasing the water tariff. Low water tariff gives
the public a wrong perception that water is cheap
and abundant. People nowadays are not aware of
In the Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001-2005), almost the scarcity of water and continue to waste this
RM 1 billion was allocated for NRW reduction precious natural resource. NGOs can cooperate
program and rehabilitation of water supply systems with the government by helping to convince the
(Y.M. Raja Datuk Zaharaton, 2004). Despite public to understand and accept the tariff hikes.
knowing the seriousness of the NRW issue, the
government failed to reduce the 36% NRW in year The current water tariff system in Malaysia
2000, instead, it increased even more to 37.7% implements higher rates for higher consumption
after the five years plan, and now almost reaching and domestic water tariffs are subsidized by the
40%. industrial water tariffs. This system promotes
wastage. We noticed that Penang has the lowest
The government should realize that NGOs can play industrial water tariff starting from RM 0.52
a very important role where they can help to (Water Rates, 2009) co-relating to Penang’s
effectively reduce NRW, thus reducing the losses significantly higher water consumption, an average
bore by our country. NGOs nowadays are mostly of 744 million litres per day in 2008 (Sook Fun,
organized with different experts from different 2008). Therefore, Penang should readjust their
fields, and since they are actually a group of
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3. Water Resource Management in Malaysia Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
water tariff in order to lessen the water Website:
consumption. http://www.kettha.gov.my/template01.asp?contentid=306
Increasing water tariffs will have an impact on the Mohd Desa, M. N., & Shafie, A. (n.d.). Water Management
society. One disadvantage is that lower-class and Capacity Building in IWRM in Malaysia.
citizens will feel the burden of the increase.
Rizal, A. (2007). Current State of Water Environment in
Without proper education, anger will rise among
Malaysia. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
the public prompting state governments to oppose
Malaysia, Conservation and Environment Management
the water tariff hikes. This will hamper the genuine
Division. Water Environment Partnership in Asia (WEPA).
intentions of placing the price hike. There has also
been an incident where water concessionaire Sook Fun, T. (2008). Anual Report 2008. Retrieved June 28,
Syabas gave out free water for first 20 cubic meters 2009, from Perbandaran Bekalan Air (PBA):
for domestic supply from June 2008 (Air percuma, http://www.pba.com.my/
2008); and this has decreased the public’s
appreciation towards water. Therefore, NGOs can (2005). State of Water Resources Management in ASEAN.
play an important role where they can disseminate ASEAN Australia Development Coorperation Programme.
knowledge and create awareness among the public Jakarta: ASEAN Secretariat.
about the scarcity of water and why a price hike is
necessary. Tan, K., & Mazlin, B. M. (n.d.). Implementation of
y
Integrated Water Resources Management in Malaysia: Some
Issues and Challenges.
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Conclusion The National Policy on the Environment. (2002). Retrieved
06 17, 2009, from Department of Environment Malaysia:
http://www.doe.gov.my/en/content/national-policy-
Current NGOs are made up of locals with different O environment
professional expertise in many areas, including
water management. They can contribute greatly if Water Rates. (2009, June 1). Retrieved July 1, 2009, from
the government allows them to, offering their Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA):
services for free in return for nothing. Formed by http://www.mida.gov.my/en_v2/index.php?page=water-rates
ew
concerned citizens, they assist the government in
many areas, providing ways and solutions Y.M. Raja Datuk Zaharaton, R. Z. (2004, March 30).
throughout the partnership. Only through this, and Asiawater Conference - Water Resources Management in
the effort of the citizens, can the water resources be Malaysia. Retrieved June 20, 2009, from Official Website of
preserved for our children and future generations. Economic Planning Unit:
http://www.epu.gov.my/html/themes/epu/images/common/p
vi
df/speecothers/txtspeech.pdf
Yeoh, C. (2009, April 11). Ranhill Utilities kurangkan NRW.
References
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http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=041
Air percuma. (2008, June 20). Retrieved July 1, 2009, from 1&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Korporat&pg=ko_01.htm
Pr
Malaysiakini: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84821
Chan, N. W. (2005). Water Resources Management in
Malaysia: NGO Perspectives. Universiti Sains Malaysia,
Geography Section, School of Humanities.
Economic Planning Unit, P. M. (2008). Mid-term Review of
the Ninth Malaysia Plan, 2006-2010. 88.
Liew, R. (2008, May). Country: Malaysian Water & Waste
Water . Retrieved June 18, 2009, from U.S. Commercial
Service Official Website:
http://www.buyusa.gov/asianow/malaysiawater08.pdf
Malaysian Water Partnership. (2009, May 11). Retrieved
July 1, 2009, from http://www.mywp.org.my/cms/
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