Malaysia emphasizes development planning that accounts for downstream risks

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Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof stressed that development planning must account for the impact of water flows and land clearing and rapid urbanization on downstream communities.
Malaysia is implementing nature-based solutions and ecohydrology technologies through UNESCO Ecohydrology Demonstration Sites in Putrajaya, Johor and Penang.
The International Conference on Ecohydrology and Water Resilience 2026, organized by Malaysia's Department of Irrigation and Drainage and the Humid Tropics Centre, was attended by 200 participants from various sectors.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Policy focus on national water resilience

As reported by The Edge Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said land clearing, river modification and development in water catchment areas must take into account impacts beyond project boundaries, particularly on downstream communities.

Fadillah, who is also Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, stressed that water systems are interconnected regardless of administrative boundaries. He said every development decision must consider water resources, water flows and the people affected, adding that rising water demand, rapid urbanization and increasingly frequent water-related challenges call for longer-term planning and stronger coordination.

He said dams, drainage networks and flood mitigation structures remain important for protecting communities, but their effectiveness can be enhanced by preserving natural ecosystems. Healthy water catchments help regulate water flows, while wetlands can store water, slow its movement and filter pollutants.

He said nature-based solutions, when properly planned and maintained, can complement conventional engineering infrastructure in addressing water-related risks while delivering broader environmental benefits.

Inter-agency cooperation and local implementation models

Fadillah also stressed the need for closer cooperation among agencies responsible for water management, environmental protection, land-use planning and infrastructure development to ensure more effective and coordinated decisions.

He said Malaysia has developed practical approaches to river management, flood mitigation, urban drainage and sustainable stormwater management with support from research institutions and universities. The examples cited included three UNESCO Ecohydrology Demonstration Sites: the Putrajaya Lake and Wetland, the Sustainable Stormwater Management Project at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia in Johor, and the Bio-Ecological Drainage System at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang.

According to him, these sites provide a platform for researchers, policymakers and engineers to assess solutions and identify approaches that can be adapted elsewhere. He also urged that scientific evidence and practical experience be incorporated into development planning and infrastructure investment, with successful solutions tested, evaluated and scaled up where appropriate.

The inaugural two-day International Conference on Ecohydrology and Water Resilience 2026 was organized by Malaysia's Department of Irrigation and Drainage and the Humid Tropics Centre Kuala Lumpur, together with UNESCO, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and other strategic partners. Themed "Ecohydrology and Water Resilience: Advancing Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Water Systems," the event attracted 200 participants, including policymakers, industry representatives, academics, non-governmental organizations and international partners.

In our previous coverage of the government's assessment of electricity and water demand from data centres, we explained how the supply capacity requested by operators can sometimes exceed actual usage, prompting scrutiny from the authorities. We also examined pressure on supply — particularly in the southern peninsula — and discussions about operators' option to provide their own supply, alongside the need to balance investor interests with national priorities.

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