KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Groundwater should be tapped as a strategic water source and managed sustainably to ensure the country’s long-term water security and resilience to climate change, according to the Dewan Rakyat Special Select Committee on Environment, Science, and Plantation.
Its chairman cum Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Ahmad Amzad Mohamed @ Hashim said the conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water can increase the efficiency of the water supply system and serve as a vital reserve during droughts or water crises.
“The committee recommends that the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (Petra) treat groundwater as a strategic water source for the country, especially as a long-term reserve that can be ‘activated’ during droughts or emergency situations,” he said during a briefing on the Potential and Direction of Groundwater in Malaysia at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Amzad added that Malaysia has great potential for groundwater resources, but its utilisation remained low, with the country facing challenges in water resource management, pressures from rapid development, and the impact of climate change, which had reduced annual rainfall by up to 22 per cent.
The matter was among eight key recommendations put forward by the committee, comprising three on the management of groundwater resources, two on technology and innovation, and three on governance and strategic planning.
He emphasised the need to adopt modern technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and digital twins to enhance integrated monitoring and management of groundwater resources.
Earlier, five MPs, including Bakri's Tan Hong Pin, Sik's Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman, Batu Pahat's Onn Abu Bakar, Machang's Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, and Mersing's Muhammad Islahuddin Abas, took part in the debate during the briefing session.
Tan said the government should prioritise efforts to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) and improve the quality of surface water before considering large-scale groundwater exploration.
“The country’s NRW rate remains high, at around 37 per cent in 2023, while several states recorded more than 50 to 60 per cent. The real problem is not water shortage but poor governance and infrastructure,” he said.
Tan also stressed that the exploration of groundwater resources poses risks of land subsidence, saltwater intrusion and groundwater pollution, which are difficult to reverse, and must therefore be carried out carefully with thorough scientific assessment.
Meanwhile, during the debate wind-up, Padang Serai MP Datuk Azman Nasruddin emphasised that implementing policies and the committee’s recommendations should be carried out in phases, with close collaboration between Petra, the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry, and the Malaysian Space Agency.
“Strategic collaboration between these agencies needs to be strengthened to coordinate policies, develop a central database and implement the development of groundwater resources in a planned and sustainable manner,” he said.
Azman cited the importance of public education and community awareness in protecting aquifer recharge areas and ensuring that development is carried out sustainably.
