STATEMENT BY THE
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK
FOR THE WORLD WATER DAY 2022 EVENT
22 MARCH 2022, 9.00 AM – 11.00 AM (VIRTUAL)
Mr. Chair,
1. Malaysia is pleased to be part of the Core Group of the successful Cross Regional Statement during the High-Level Meeting on Water last year. The collective support shown by all 168 countries and 11 organisations on water action is a testimony of our strong commitment to advancing SDG6 and other water-related goals.
2. We are one year away from the holding of the Mid-Term Review Conference of the Water Decade. The event today is not only timely but also important as we prepare for the Conference.
3. Malaysia is concerned with reports indicating that we are not on track to achieve SDG6 by 2030. In this regard, ensuring sustainable clean water and sanitation would require greater efforts from the international community. Malaysia believes that a great starting point is to use the SDG6 Global Acceleration Framework and focuses on financing, capacity development, data and information, innovation and governance.
Mr. Chair,
4. As part of our national climate action and to enhance water management efficiency, Malaysia plans to achieve a holistic water transformation agenda by 2040. The first phase of the agenda aims to accelerate integrated water resources management (IWRM) at the federal and local levels. Expediting the gazetting and conservation of water catchment areas are two crucial elements of this phase.
5. To improve adaptation and resilience planning at the national level, Malaysia has also developed the Development of National Water Balance Management System (NAWABS) which provides better-informed water availability for the purpose of planning and operational decision-making process during the dry period.
6. In our mitigation efforts to fight flooding, Malaysia has also developed the National Flood Forecasting and Warning System (NaFFWS). The system would enable seven days forecasting with warning alerts of six hours to two days in advance. It will be implemented comprehensively throughout the country involving flood prediction models in 41 major river basins.
7. Further, Malaysia has integrated the study of Ecohydrology as part of the water management curriculum in local universities. Malaysia looks forward to cooperating with advanced countries in enhancing our capacity building and technical capability in this area.
Mr. Chair,
8. Climate change requires all of us to continue adapting and improving our climate action efforts. The Conference next year would afford us the opportunity to learn from each other and share our best practices towards attaining water sustainability. Malaysia stands ready to support and contribute towards cooperative efforts in attaining SDG6 and other water-linked goals. We firmly believe that only through combined efforts, we would be able to achieve our common agenda of building back better, stronger and sustainable.
Thank you.