The National Agenda on Water Sector Transformation 2040 (WST2040) aspires to transform the national water sector into a dynamic & vibrant economic sector that can contribute more significantly to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) & provide good quality affordable water to the Rakyat as well as create new job opportunities and facilitate resilient development of STIE & RDIC in the sector.

ASM as the strategic partner of the Ministry of Economy (then Economic Planning Unit) had undertaken and completed the roadmap for the national agenda on the WST2040 development study in December 2021. The study aims to create a difference in creating a more integrated ecosystem for water management while creating economic opportunities through the cross-cutting areas of water sector in Malaysia.

Spanning over four Malaysia Plans, a total of 87 strategies, 601 goals, and 601 key performance indicators will be implemented. 601 KPIs will be implemented, beginning with 106 immediately implementable projects in the 12th MP. A value-add of RM13.3 billion and a contribution of as much as 0.46% to the national GDP are predicted for Malaysia if the potential of the water sector is fully optimised by transforming the water sector and water ecosystem, as opposed to a value-add of RM4.5 billion and a contribution of 0.32% in 2019. But for this change to be successful, it will require knowledge, technology, and ultimately a developed, healthy water ecosystem that is comprehensive, efficient, and sustainable.

In relation to this, a forum session towards enabling a platform for a deep-dive discussion for WST2040 initiatives in Malaysia, moderated by Ir Dr Salmah Zakaria FASc, Chairperson WST2040 Study, on the following:

  • Advocacy, Awareness, Capacity Building and Public Participatory Platforms (AACB) by Professor Dato’ Dr Mazlin Mokhtar FASc;
  • Chair of Task Force, Integrated Water Sector Data Center (IWSDC), Datuk Mohd Adnan Mohd Nor FASc; and
  • Water as and Economic Sector (WES) by Professor Dr Mahendhiran Nair FASc

Moderator

Panelists

Ir. Dr. Salmah Zakaria FASc

Chairperson, WST2040 Study

Bio

Ir. Dr. Salmah Zakaria FASc

Chairperson
WST2040 Study

Qualifications:
BE (Civil-UTM), Dip in Hydraulics (IHE, Delft), MSc (Land & Water Resources Management) and a PhD (Peat Water Management) both from Cranfield Institute of Technology, UK.

Affiliations: member of IEM and BEM, Member Board of LUAS & GEC

Experiences:

  • Chair of the ASM Water Committee, 2015 - 2021.
  • Chair of PMC, ASM/EPU Study on WST2040 (Water Sector Transformation by 2040 (May2020 - Dec 2021)
  • Work in UNESCAP, Bangkok (2015-2008)
  • More than 30 years in the Malaysian Civil service(1977-2008). Last 3 positions:
    Director General of NAHRIM (2008-2005), Director of Corp Development DID (2005-2002) and Director of River Engineering DID (2002-1999).

Prof Emeritus Dato’ ChM. Dr Mazlin Bin Mokhtar, FASc., FMIC

Deputy Head (Research), & Director, Ecological Systems Program, United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network Asia Headquarters (UN SDSN ASIA), Sunway University

Bio

Prof Emeritus Dato’ ChM. Dr Mazlin Bin Mokhtar,
FASc., FMIC

Deputy Head (Research), & Director,
Ecological Systems Program, United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network Asia Headquarters (UN SDSN ASIA), Sunway University

Mazlin Mokhtar, BSc., PhD, is the Deputy Head of Research at the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network - Asia Headquarters (UN SDSN-Asia) hosted by Jeffrey Cheah Foundation at Sunway University, Malaysia. With 37 years at UKM, he held key positions such as Director of LESTARI, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Affairs, and Founding Director of Centre for Public and International Relations (PUSPA). He has served on various committees and boards, including the Environment Committee of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and the Environmental Quality Act's Appeal Board.

Mazlin's notable roles include Chair of Malaysia's Environmental Quality Council; Chairman of Special Committee appointed by Malaysian Government in reviewing the Lynas Rare Earth operations, and as Task Force Chairman in the advocacy, awareness, and capacity building for Malaysia's Water Sector Transformation 2040 Study with ASM. He also had served as an International Atomic Energy Agency Research Fellow.

Mazlin is the recipient of the Langkawi Environment Award in 2018, and award of the best 2010 social science project under MOHE's FRGS Grant Scheme for his research on national chemicals management. Mazlin's contributions also extend to organizations like WWF Malaysia, UNDP GEF Small Grants Program, and the National River Care Fund via GEC and partners. He has led many multidisciplinary research projects focused on sustainable development, including the environmental management aspects of UNESCO's Global Geopark in Langkawi. Additionally, he played a key role in international training courses and disaster risk reduction efforts with United Nations University's Climate and Ecosystems Change Adaptation Research (UN CECAR) and Training Program.

Mazlin Mokhtar's extensive career reflects his commitment to environmental and sustainable development initiatives.

 

Datuk Ir. Mohd Adnan Mohd Nor, FASc

Chair of Task Force, Integrated Water Sector Data Center (IWSDC), Water Sector Transformation Plan (WST2024) Study

Bio

Datuk Ir. Mohd Adnan Mohd Nor, FASc

Chair of Task Force,
Integrated Water Sector Data Center (IWSDC),
Water Sector Transformation Plan (WST2024) Study

Datuk Ir. Mohd Adnan is a Professional Engineer with Practising Certificate registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia. He has more than 40 years working experience as a Civil Engineer specialising in water resources planning, development and management.

He is a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), Board Member of the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), Member and Past President of the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) and a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM).

In water resources, he has been involved in several projects in Malaysia and overseas covering water resources, flood management, irrigation and river basin development.

He is also active as a resource person with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and contributed to several policy papers such as Water Sustainability for the World Water Forum 7 and river basin sustainability studies.

As a Fellow of the ASM, he is a member of the ASM Water Committee and was the Team Leader/Co Leader of studies on water demand management and water for agriculture.

For the Water Sector Transformation Plan 2040 (WST2040), the was the Task Force Leader for the component on Integrated Water Sector Data Centre (IWSDC). This component addresses the need for open source data and information necessary to ensure the smooth implementation of WST2040.

Prof Dr. Mahendhiran Sanggaran Nair, FASc

Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research Engagement & Impact) – SUNWAY University Malaysia, and
Lead Author for “Water as an Economic Sector” – Water Sector Tranformation 2040 (WST2040) Roadmap

Bio

Prof Dr. Mahendhiran Sanggaran Nair, FASc

Pro-Vice Chancellor
(Research Engagement & Impact) 
SUNWAY University Malaysia, and

Lead Author for "Water as an Economic Sector"
Water Sector Tranformation 2040 (WST2040) Roadmap

Prof. Mahendhiran Sanggaran Nair is an expert in data science, econometrics and STIE (Science, Technology, Innovation and Economic) Policy modelling. He is the architect for the development of the 10-10MySTIE Framework and the 8i-innovation ecosystem model, which provide a systematic and an evidence-based approach to characterise the national and industrial innovation ecosystems for a
knowledge intensive economy. Professor Nair has been a subject matter expert for government agencies, industry, community organisations and international agencies on sustainable STIE development. He is a Fellow of Academy Sciences Malaysia and Fellow of CPA (Australia).