Tech investors drawn by water and energy infrastructure, according to Prime Minister

In a significant development, the Langat 2 water treatment plant was officially opened today, with Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Fadillah Yusof expressing his concern about ensuring affordable water and energy prices for the people.

Speaking at the event, Fadillah Yusoff emphasized that it's not just about providing water and electricity facilities to investors, but also about managing their prices reasonably. This sentiment was echoed by Prime Minister Anwar, who reiterated that meeting the people's needs and ensuring their comfort remains the government's main priority.

The government recognizes the challenges facing Malaysia's water management, including aging infrastructure, inefficiencies in water distribution, leakage losses, and the impact of population growth and climate change on water resources. To address these issues, the government is actively pursuing modernization strategies to improve efficiency and sustainability.

One such strategy is the modernization of pipelines and the adoption of innovative materials and digital technologies. This move is aimed at strengthening operational performance and reducing leakages, as emphasized by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof during the Water Malaysia 2025 Conference.

The government is also integrating four strategic pillars for water sector reform: efficiency, digital transformation, resilience planning, and stakeholder engagement. These pillars focus on lifecycle cost and environmental impact from design to operation.

To further address raw water quality and production inefficiencies, the government is promoting real-time water quality monitoring and advanced distribution management technologies through partnerships with companies like bNovate Technologies.

The government is also fostering integrated water resources management via platforms such as the Malaysia Water Forum (MyWATER) 2025, aimed at sustainable governance and cross-sector collaboration.

The AIR2040 roadmap, which incorporates smart technology, sustainable financing, and partnerships, is another initiative aimed at ensuring secure and efficient water solutions for the future.

Regarding reasonable water pricing, while the specific strategies are not yet detailed, the focus on efficiency, lifecycle cost assessment, and sustainable financing under the AIR2040 framework implies that pricing reforms are likely linked to incentivizing efficiency, covering real costs, and ensuring equitable access without compromising sustainability.

In terms of progress under the 13th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025), these initiatives—such as pipeline modernization, digital transformation, advancing smart water technologies, and integrated resource management forums—reflect concrete steps aligning with the plan’s goals to improve water sustainability, service reliability, and sector resilience. The ongoing national-level events and technology partnerships in 2025 highlight active implementation and momentum.

However, the issue of non-revenue water wastage, a significant problem in Malaysia's water management, has also been identified as a priority under the 13th Malaysia Plan. Fadillah Yusof, as the energy transition and water transformation minister, is actively addressing this issue, having raised it multiple times during Cabinet meetings.

Anwar identified wastage issues in Malaysia, specifically related to non-revenue water, due to weaknesses in the old piping system and usage practices. However, during the event at the Langat 2 water treatment plant, the issue of non-revenue water wastage was not mentioned as a concern.

Malaysia's appeal to investors is strengthened by its ability to provide professional manpower and expertise. Water and energy are strategic aspects for Malaysia, and the government's efforts towards modernization, sustainability, and reasonable pricing are likely to further enhance this appeal.

In conclusion, Malaysia is addressing its water management challenges through modernization, digital tech, and integrated governance. Strategies for reasonable pricing likely involve sustainable financing and cost-recovery aligned with efficiency improvements. Progress under the 13th Malaysia Plan includes active sector reforms, knowledge exchange, and technology adoption positioning Malaysia towards more resilient and sustainable water management.

Tech investors drawn by water and energy infrastructure, according to Prime Minister