Fadillah calls on global community to boost cooperation on water crisis

New Straits Times

13-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia urges the international community to strengthen cooperation to address the global water crisis, a cross-border challenge that affects all countries regardless of whether they are rich or poor, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, said it is time for the global community to recognise water as a highly valuable resource for human survival and development.
"Malaysia believes strategic partnership and aligned policy actions are priorities in ensuring a sustainable and resilient water future for all.
"Water is the lifeblood of our planet that unites the global community in a shared responsibility.
"Therefore, the global water crisis that transcends borders and economies demands immediate cooperation," he said on his Facebook page today.
He said this while sharing Malaysia's experience at the opening plenary session of the Global Water Summit 2025 themed 'Delivering the Economics of Water' in Paris today.
Fadillah also shared the country's progressive approach to sustainable water management, thereby affirming Malaysia's commitment to offering the country's expertise as a model for countries facing similar water security issues.
At the plenary session, he also said the country's key achievements in the journey of water management reforms that transformed the country from fragmented state governance towards a more integrated federal-state partnership.
"Malaysia is also committed to ongoing efforts to manage the increasing water demand, including the effects of urbanisation, climate change and industrial water use," he said.
In the Facebook post, Fadillah also touched on three main points of the Malaysia Water Sector Transformation Agenda 2040, which are changing the perspective on water by focusing on water management as a highly valuable and limited resource.
In addition, strengthening cooperation in private sector investment to drive innovation in water management; proactive readiness for climate change by enhancing flood prediction efficiency, more sophisticated modelling data; and scenario-based planning to better prepare for and predict extreme weather events.
"I also highlighted Malaysia's active role in regional efforts, particularly at the Asean level, while extending an invitation to global innovators to invest and collaborate in new-generation water technology," he said.
Also present at the summit were the Malaysian Ambassador to France, Datuk Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim; Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry secretary of Sustainable Energy Division, Asdirhyme Abdul Rasib; and Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Narendran Maniam.
– Bernama