FADILLAH CALLS FOR MORE GLOBAL, LOCAL INDUSTRY PLAYERS TO JOIN INNOVATIVE WATER PARTNERSHIP

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- More global and local industry players should work closely with water and sewerage operators as well as government agencies to introduce innovative and climate-resilient solutions, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), said deeper cross-sector collaboration is essential to accelerate Malaysia’s shift towards sustainable water management and to safeguard long-term resource security.

He said the joint announcement today involving Amazon Web Services (AWS), Air Selangor, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) and the Selangor state government demonstrated how federal–state alignment and private sector participation could generate meaningful impact for communities, industries and the nation.

bootstrap slideshow

“This partnership is transformative. It stands as proof that when federal vision is aligned with state execution, we unlock solutions that bring real impact to people, industries and the nation.

“This is precisely the type of collaboration we aspire to build, where governments and industry move together to translate sustainability from principle into practice,” he said in his opening remarks at the Joint Announcement of the Reclaimed Water Supply Projects for Malaysia here today.

Also present were Deputy Secretary-General (Water) PETRA Datuk Mohd Rodzwan Mohd Baba Sakri; Selangor Deputy State Secretary Datuk Johary Anuar, representing the Menteri Besar; and AWS Asia Pacific, Japan and China Director for Data Centre Operations Dr Saji PK.

Fadillah said the use of reclaimed water for cloud operations positions Malaysia as a regional leader in sustainable digital infrastructure, noting that the collaboration is aligned with broader national agendas under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), the Madani Economy and the Water Sector Transformation 2040 (AIR 2040).

He said Malaysia is the second country in the AWS Region — which includes Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia — to utilise reclaimed water, underscoring the nation’s leadership in circular and climate-responsible initiatives.

Fadillah said PETRA is strengthening guidelines, streamlining permit processes and developing a comprehensive reclaimed water policy alongside a roadmap to support industries transitioning to sustainable water sources.

He added that the government is also advancing mechanisms for industries, including data centres and strategic sectors, to access green electricity through initiatives such as the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS), Green Electricity Tariff (GET) and rooftop solar under the Self-Consumption (SelCo) scheme.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Fadillah said Malaysia must strengthen adherence to the AIR 2040 framework to prevent a future water crisis, noting that long-term water sustainability hinges on federal–state cooperation and consistent compliance with national guidelines.

Responding to studies suggesting the possibility of a water crisis within five to ten years, Fadillah dismissed the claim, stressing that the AIR 2040 framework was designed to mitigate such risks.

“That’s why we have launched AIR 2040. At the national level, this is the clear direction, but implementation requires close collaboration with the states because water falls under state jurisdiction,” he said.

Fadillah said comprehensive planning is underway and Malaysia will remain resilient if all stakeholders comply with the guidelines outlined under AIR 2040.

“With full compliance, I believe we can ensure sustainability in terms of water supply, both for consumption and industrial needs,” he said.

-- BERNAMA