Capacity building in IWRM to support the acceleration of Malaysia Water Sector Transformation 2040 Roadmap

In early 2023 the Malaysian Economic Planning Unit, under the Prime Minister's Department, released the Water Sector Transformation 2040 document (WST2040), as the strategic agenda for the water sector.

The WST2040 is a national agenda to transform the water sector into a dynamic & vibrant economic sector, so that the sector can contribute significantly to the national gross domestic product and provide good quality affordable water to the public as well as create new job opportunities and facilitating resilient development of Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy and Research, Development, Commercialisation and Innovation in the sector

The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) Malaysia has been mandated to implement WST20240.  As part of the WST2040 document, a special volume on Advocacy, Awareness, Capacity Building and Public Participatory Platforms (AACB) is also available.

The capacity-building workshop located in the Universiti Malaysia Sabah started with a welcoming speech from Dr. Moh Pak Yan, Head of the Water Research Unit, Faculty of Science and Natural Resources.

Participants came from the private and public sector as well as CBOs and NGOs; Environment Protection Department Sabah, Department of Irrigation and Drainage Sabah, The Board of Trustees Of The Sabah Parks, Jetama Water Sdn Bhd, PZK Sdn Bhd, PACOS Trust, REACT, C.L.E.A.R. and Universiti Malaysia Sabah students.

The modules covered:

  • Introduction and Principles of IWRM
  • Policy, Legislation and Institutions
  • River Basin Management
  • Integrated Flood Management (IFM) and Stormwater Management & Drainage Master Plan (PISMA)
  • Water Hazards – Floods and Droughts, Climate Change Projections
  • Role and Involvement of Administrator (in IWRM)
  • Strategies, monitoring and evaluation in Implementing IWRM – SDG 2030
  • Disaster Risk Reduction
  • On-site Training on Water Quality Bio-Indicators (based on the River Ranger module)
  • Role Play

A presentation on Clean Water Micro-Plant in Rural Areas: A Case Study in Pitas, Sabah was shared with the participants.

The Workshop was a two-way process which provided the trainers with an opportunity to impart knowledge to an enthusiastic group of Participants who were eager to learn and share. It has also provided an opportunity for the trainers to learn more about the issues and challenges in the state of Sabah.