Review of the water supply management and reforms needed to ensure water security in Malaysia

The government of Malaysia is committed to provide better water supply for the general public as well as for the industrial and agricultural sectors. Several policies have been developed and many programs have been initiated to ensure continuous water supply. Nevertheless, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, together with climate change and increasing number of polluted rivers, make some of the traditional approaches in planning and managing water resources ineffective and requires urgent appraisal. This paper examines the causes of major events of water stress, the management approach in the water sector and related water supply policy, and provides recommendations to prepare Malaysia to face future events of water stress. This paper recommends a shift of reliance from the water supply to water demand management to ensure water security in Malaysia