GROUNDWATER SHOULD BE TAPPED AS STRATEGIC WATER SOURCE - SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Groundwater should be tapped as a strategic water source and managed sustainably to ensure the country’s long-term water security and resilience to climate change, according to the Dewan Rakyat Special Select Committee on Environment, Science and Plantation.

Its chairman Datuk Ahmad Amzad Mohamed @ Hashim (PN-Kuala Terengganu) said the conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water can increase the efficiency of the water supply system and serve as an important reserve during droughts or water crises.

“The committee recommends that the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (PETRA) treat groundwater as a strategic water source for the country, especially as a long-term reserve that can be ‘activated’ during droughts or emergency situations,” he said during a briefing on the Potential and Direction of Groundwater in Malaysia at the Dewan Rakyat today.

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Ahmad Amzad said that Malaysia had great potential for groundwater resources, but their utilisation remained low, adding that the country faced challenges in water resource management, pressures from rapid development, and the impact of climate change, which had reduced annual rainfall by up to 22 per cent.

He said the matter was among eight key recommendations put forward by the committee, comprising three on the management of groundwater resources, two on technology and innovation, and three on governance and strategic planning.

Ahmad Amzad also stressed the need to adopt modern technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins to enhance integrated monitoring and management of groundwater resources.

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Earlier, five MPs - Tan Hong Pin (PH-Bakri), Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik), Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat), Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) and Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (PN-Mersing) - took part in the debate during the briefing session.

Tan said the government should prioritise efforts to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) and improve the quality of surface water before considering large-scale groundwater exploration.

“The country’s NRW rate remains high, at around 37 per cent in 2023, while several states recorded more than 50 to 60 per cent. The real problem is not water shortage but poor governance and infrastructure,” he said.

He also stressed that the exploration of groundwater resources poses risks of land subsidence, saltwater intrusion and groundwater pollution, which are difficult to reverse, and must therefore be carried out carefully with thorough scientific assessment.

Meanwhile, Datuk Azman Nasruddin (PN-Padang Serai), when winding up the debate, emphasised that the implementation of policies and the committee’s recommendations should be carried out in phases, with close collaboration between PETRA, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Malaysian Space Agency.

“Strategic collaboration between these agencies needs to be strengthened to coordinate policies, develop a central database and implement the development of groundwater resources in a planned and sustainable manner,” he said.

Azman also highlighted the importance of public education and community awareness in protecting aquifer recharge areas and ensuring that development is carried out in a sustainable manner.

--BERNAMA