Malaysian PM: Treat water with respect

This included groundwater abstraction, rainwater harvesting, and even storm water harvesting using off-river storage and coastal reservoirs, he added.

“Malaysia strives to ensure that the country’s water resources will be managed sustainably. Water must be treated with respect.

“All these will contribute to the overall achievement of the national KPI of 99% water supply coverage, 80% connected sewerage services and the national target of 25% in reducing non-revenue water by 2030, ” he said during the launch of the 11th edition of International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM), the first virtual edition of the event.

Muhyiddin noted that the impact of climate change could alter the availability, quantity and quality of the water supply cycle while contributing to extreme weather, causing long droughts and extreme floods.

He added that while it is hard to find positives amid the wreckage of Covid-19, the lockdowns across the world makes us reflect, think and start to realise that we need to change our ways.

“We need to rethink our relationship with the planet and we need to build back better. Due to all of us being at home, we also notice we have better air quality as there is time for mother earth to reinvigorate herself.

“But this was short-lived as we went back to our old ways once the lockdowns were lifted. But the lesson is, there is a promising path of green recovery as we wade through this pandemic, ” he said.

The pandemic has been a wake-up call for Malaysia, just like all other countries, for us to rethink our development agenda, he added.

“Sustainable development and green technology need to play a vital role in driving the economy. A green recovery approach would not only spur the economy and social well-being but will also drive the nation’s development trajectory on a low carbon and climate resilience pathway, ” he said.

There will be a special focus on the sustainability agenda in the upcoming Budget 2021, with a very important announcement to be made, he said.

The Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) is currently spearheading the Environmental Sustainability Roadmap in Malaysia towards sustainable development.

“This document has clear targets and indicators towards a green and sustainable pathway from 2020 to 2030, ” he said.