AIR 2040 strengthens water management in our country and transforms the water sector to be more resilient.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Water Transformation Roadmap 2040 (AIR 2040) will transform the water sector into a resilient, active and high-value industry, which will help increase the country’s productivity.
Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, said AIR 2040 will improve water management in our country in a more systematic and comprehensive manner.
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This includes reducing the rate of non-returnable water (NRW) to a target of 10 per cent by 2040, he said.
Akmal said there are four steps in implementing the AIR 2040 agenda based on the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP) to the Fifteenth Malaysia Plan (15MP).
“Over the next five years, we want to focus on understanding that we need to integrate water resource management in a more integrated manner. ”
Even though there are good water resources such as rain and reservoirs, if we do not manage them well, problems will arise. For example, water will overflow during the rains or we will have a shortage of water during the drought.
“Therefore, the next step is that we will start using locally developed technology.
Our ultimate goal is by 2040 to make Malaysia the water hub for the Southeast Asian region,” he said.
He said this in a program titled ‘Water Transformation Roadmap 2040’ which was aired on Monday night.
The first phase from 2021 to 2025 is to increase the use of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).
The second phase, from 2026 to 2030, aims to develop local technology that can compete with international standards. The third phase, from 2031 to 2035, will focus on achieving economies of scale. Finally, the fourth phase from 2036 to 2040 is to make Malaysia a regional water industry hub.
Akmal explained that AIR 2040 will benefit the public by ensuring a quality, stable and sufficient water supply to meet daily needs until 2040 and beyond.
He said that the Madani Government this year has approved funds to be given to all states to improve important pipes, with a target of reducing the NRW rate to 28. 8 percent by 2030.
For example, the statistical rate in NRW is currently around 33. 4 percent
“If this problem is not managed well, these pipes will continue to face pressure because there are still many things that need to be improved,” he said.
He also stated that there are around 12,000 kilometers of pipes that need to be improved. The government has identified 1,844 kilometers of pipes that need to be improved immediately next year.
“We have met with the water operators. ”
Although the Federal Government is not fully responsible for managing these assets, we know that the operators of these assets are under the State Government.
“But we believe that if the government does not provide assistance and show commitment, ultimately the people will feel the negative effects because the water problem cannot be solved,” said Akmal.
Akmal hopes that all parties, including government agencies, private companies, NGOs, and the people, can work together to make the AIR 2040 agenda a success.
Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA)
