Integrated Water Resources Management in Malaysia: Some Initiatives at the Basin Level

Abstract

The concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) was first introduced in Malaysia since 1990s in various forms. However, the key issue remained how to implement it? IWRM can be best implemented at the basin level by using an Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) approach. IRBM as a subset of IWRM is an approach to water resource management that takes into account all the factors linked to the resources, including social and economic activities. The implementation of IWRM at basin level in Malaysia has been initiated in managing water resources and river basin in Langat River Basin, Malaysia. The Langat River Basin is a transboundary river basin and is one of the Evolving UNESCO-IHP HELP Basins since 2004. The basin is small but has inherited many problems of a large river basin. This is because the river plays an important role in conservation, agriculture and potable water supply, but is facing threat from rapid development in the industry sectors and urbanization in the basin. This is why the components of IWRM and IRBM is needed to be implemented as practical approaches toward sustainable water resources and river basin management in Langat. This paper highlights some initiatives that have been made in managing water resources in this basin, as well as describes the current development and existing commitments towards achieving sustainability of water resources and river basin. The implementation of IWRM and IRBM need to be enhanced and further strengthened in order to ensure the sustainability of the water resources and river basin in Langat.