Water Sector Transformation 2040 (WST2040)

In 2022, ASM continued its strategic partnership with the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) on Water Sector Transformation 2040 (WST2040) that seeks to transform the water sector into a dynamic & vibrant economic sector that could contribute significantly to the national GDP & provide good quality affordable water to the Rakyat as well as create new job opportunities and facilitating resilient development of STIE & RDIC in the sector. ASM collaborated with the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) and EPU to jointly produce the promotional video on WST2040. An interactive website for WST2040 has also been developed to create public awareness.

On 21 July 2022, the WST2040 Final Report completed in December 2021 was endorsed by the National Water Council (Majlis Air Negara) chaired by the Prime Minister. The Unity Government also gave its full support to WST2040 through the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC). During the recent United Nations 2023 Water Conference in New York, the NRECC Minister introduced WST2040 as the country’s focus in his speech. 

To realise the twin objectives (water security & sustainability and water as an economic opportunity) and vision of WST2040, a total of 87 strategies, 601 targets and 601 KPIs have been formulated for implementation over the next four Malaysia Plans (MP).

WST2040 Vision

WST2040 addresses the following eight sub-sectors leading to 8 game changers for the water sector:

Key Findings & Recommendations:

The key findings and recommendations based on the five focus areas of the study (People, Governance, Information & RDIC, Infrastructure & Technology and Finance) are as follows:

It is envisioned that when the potential of the water sector is fully optimised by transforming the water sector and water ecosystem, Malaysia will be able to achieve a value-add of RM13.3 billion, contributing as much as 0.46% to the national GDP by 2040. This transformation can only be achieved through knowledge and technology.

Way Forward

ASM will be collaborating with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change to implement promotional activities to raise awareness on WST2040.