KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — The government is focusing on the national non-revenue water (NRW) issue as it is causing annual losses of over RM2 billion, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said.
He said these efforts include providing matching grants to assist water operators in dealing with the NRW issue more effectively and sustainably.
“The main challenge is with old pipes that are leaking, damaged, etc, leading to NRW where water is processed but lost due to leakage. It requires significant funding to replace old pipes.
“That’s why one of our strategies is that for any state government with NRW of more than 5 per cent, the federal government will assist by providing grants, while those already performing well will be provided with loans to replace old pipes. This is one of our efforts and focuses until we can resolve this issue.”
Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said this to reporters after delivering the keynote address at the Symposium on Future Leaders of Water Sustainability (Flows) 2024: Accelerating Impact for Water Resilience here today.
In his address, Fadillah said the 12th Malaysia Plan outlines strategies to bolster water security and sustainability by aligning with the sixth UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG6), specifically targeting enhanced clean water coverage and reduced NRW to support a resilient water infrastructure.
He also said achieving sustainable water management will require a foundation of data-driven policies and collaboration between multiple stakeholders.
Fadillah explained the water symposium today aimed to address water security and the indispensable role of water business management.
He said it also sought to foster cross-sector collaborations for innovative solutions and advocate for sustainability in water development, in alignment with SDG6.
“Our focus will be on ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation, sustainable management of water resources, wastewater and its ecosystems.
“To achieve these goals, we must provide an enabling platform for all stakeholders to actively participate in driving these aspirations,” he added.
— Bernama
