KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Malaysia must continue advancing the use of bio-based and plant-derived technologies as sustainable alternatives to conventional chemical treatments in water and wastewater management, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said such innovations not only reduce the nation’s carbon footprint and environmental impact but also enhance resource efficiency and national self-reliance by cutting dependence on imported materials.
“These efforts are fully aligned with the broader mission under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) to ensure water sustainability and environmental stewardship move forward in harmony, creating lasting benefits for both people and the planet,” he said.
Fadillah, who is also energy transition and water transformation minister, said this when officiating the Malaysia International Water Convention 2025 (MIWC) here today, which was also attended by Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He emphasised that as Malaysia progresses towards Water Sector Transformation 2040 (AIR2040), bold steps must be taken to embrace emerging technologies and empower local innovators to shape the future of the country’s water industry.
“We must not only adopt technologies from abroad but also create, refine and export Malaysian innovations to the world.
“By cultivating a vibrant ecosystem of home-grown startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs, we can build a strong foundation of local intellectual property, strengthening our national capacity, driving economic resilience and inspiring a new generation of technology leaders to carry the nation’s water legacy forward,” he said.
In conjunction with the event, Fadillah launched the NextWave Innovation initiative and the Young Water Professional Mentor-Mentee programme.
Fadillah said MIWC is more than just a conference, describing it as a catalyst for transformation that gathers government, industry, academia and innovators united by a shared goal — to harness water’s full potential, unlock opportunities and drive the next wave of technology and innovation.
The key highlight of the convention, he said, is the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Workshop, which embodies the spirit of innovation by focusing on efficiency improvement, resource conversation and long-term sustainability.
“Through smart metering, leak detection, and data-driven monitoring, Malaysia is taking bold steps to align with global sustainability goals and enhance operational excellence,” he said.
In elaborating on the NextWave Innovation initiative, Fadillah said the strategic collaboration between Professional Trade Exhibitions and Meeting Planners (PROTEMP) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) bridges the gap between research and application, academia and industry, vision and reality.
“These partnerships represent the collaborative DNA that Malaysia must continue to strengthen, where knowledge, technology, and purpose converge to create real-world impact,” he said.
Fadillah said that to anchor all these efforts, Malaysia envisions the establishment of a National Water Hub by 2040 in alignment with the aspirations of AIR2040.
“This hub will serve as the nerve centre of the nation’s water ecosystem, connecting research, innovation, policy, and industry under one dynamic framework,” he said.
Fadillah added that the mission of sustainable water management cannot rest on a single institution; it requires collective responsibility with the combined efforts of policymakers, industry players, researchers, and communities.
