Speaking at the Global Water Summit 2025 in Paris, Deputy Prime Minister Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Haji Yusof emphasized the urgent need to treat water as a critical resource for human survival and sustainable development. His remarks were highlighted in a press release issued by Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK), Malaysia’s national sewerage company under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated.
“Water is the lifeblood of our planet and binds us in shared responsibility,” he said during the Opening Plenary session titled ‘Delivering the Economics of Water’ on 13 May. “The global water crisis knows no boundaries—geographical or economic—and demands immediate, collective action.”
Sharing the nation’s progressive approach to sustainable water management, Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), highlighted both its successes and lessons learned, reaffirming Malaysia’s commitment to offering its expertise as a model for countries facing similar water security issues.
In his address, he outlined key milestones in Malaysia’s water management journey, emphasising reforms that have transitioned the country from fragmented state governance to a more coordinated federal-state partnership. He also underscored Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to manage growing demands, including urbanisation, climate change and industrial water use.
Meanwhile, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Narendran Maniam said that resource recovery has shifted from a discretionary measure to a policy imperative, driven by the pressing need to enhance environmental resilience and ensure sustainable resource management amid escalating economic and ecological pressures.
Narendran added that for IWK, resource recovery has evolved from being a nice-to-have to a necessity, with a focus on three main drivers behind this journey:
- Commitment to Environmental Sustainability – IWK is dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimising waste and creating positive environmental impact through all its efforts.
- Changing the Utilities Landscape – by becoming the second tap for the nation. As Malaysia is rapidly becoming a regional hub for data centres, it presents a unique opportunity for IWK to support the sustainability of Malaysia’s data centre industry through reclaimed water supply.
- Economic Values and Financial Sustainability.
