SINGAPORE: Sarawak has called for greater regional and global collaboration to address growing challenges in water supply management, particularly in the face of climate change.
Sarawak Utilities and Telecommunications Minister, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, stressed that no country can overcome such complex issues alone, especially with unpredictable weather patterns affecting water sources.
Speaking at the session titled ‘Regional Partnerships – Tapping Southeast Asia’s Water Market Regional Synergy in Tackling Shared Water Challenges’ during the Singapore Business Forum @ Spotlight Singapore International Water Week 2025, Dato Sri Julaihi highlighted Sarawak’s openness to international partnerships.
“Sarawak welcomes global cooperation that includes management, technology applications, financing, private investment, capacity building and skills sharing,” he said.
He also pointed to Sarawak’s efforts in protecting water sources by gazetting 28 sites covering 4 million hectares—approximately 30 per cent of the state’s area—as official water storage zones.
In terms of knowledge exchange, Sarawak actively participates in various platforms including the Borneo International Water & Wastewater Exhibition & Conference (BIWWEC), and the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress for 2024 and 2026. Sarawak will also host the IWA event in 2028.
Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in June 2024 between the Malaysian Water Association (Sarawak Branch) and the Singapore Water Association to strengthen cooperation in rural water supply development.
“This collaboration enables opportunities in digital innovation, public-private partnerships and technical skill advancement,” Dato Sri Julaihi added.
While in Singapore, the Sarawak delegation also visited the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI), the START Centre, and the Public Utilities Board (PUB) Command Centre to explore the latest technologies in water management.
The delegation included Deputy Secretary of the Sarawak Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunications, Datu Jafri Lias; Director of the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Office, Ir. Ts. Awang Mohammad Fadillah Awang Redzuan; and Chairman of Gerempung Ai Malaysia (Sarawak Branch), Ts. Kelvin Kuek Hann Yih.
