1.

ABSTRAK up between the government and private

companies should not be “classified” but instead
Water is a critical ingredient in all social and
be public documents available to the public for
economic. Though Malaysia is endowed with
discussion, review and improvement. Another
abundant water resources, the country is
area to ensure better governance is for the
experiencing increased demand for water in
government to engage and actively involved all
recent years. All the issues associated with water
stakeholders in the water sector, especially civil
management, governance is considered of
society and NGOs. Finally, the Federal
primary importance. issue water governance in
Government should reconsider its plans to
Malaysia and concludes that it is successful in the
centralize the water sector by taking it over from
sense that water is served to more than 95 % of
State Governments. This is because,
the population. However, there are many areas
centralization would be contradictory towards
that need improvement to achieve better
involvement of all stakeholders and also pose
governance in water management. One is to
problems to many states that had already
improve Government-controlled water
privatized the water sector. Finally, governance
departments by ensuring their workers are well-
of the water sector should be based on
trained and committed to excellence, public
Integrated Water Resources Management which
service and integrity instead of the usual laid-
is the logical way forward in ensuring sustainable
back government-servant mentality. Another is
development.
to ensure politicians do not interfere in the
water sector. Currently, it is widely believed that intorduction
many water companies are linked to powerful
Water pollution is a major problem in the global
politicians, making the awarding of contracts,
environment. This necessitates continuing
tariffs and other management aspects non-
assessment and review of water resource policy
transparent and ineffective. Ideally, politicians
at all levels. The main objectives of this
that govern should act on the professional
investigate major sources of water pollution,
advice of the water managers and not the other
water resource policies and challenges to
way around. Another area of water governance
improve water quality in Malaysia. The findings
that needs to be intensified is the war against
indicate that the major problem associated with
corruption. In the water sector, there should also
water pollution is that human heart and kidneys
be an all-out war on corruption at all levels of
can be adversely affected if polluted water is
governance, in both the public and private
consumed regularly. Other health problems
sectors. The importance of freshwater supply
associated with polluted water are poor blood
and safely-treated wastewater return must be
circulation, skin lesions, vomiting, cholera,
exaggerated and over emphasized in Malaysia
gastroenteritis and damage to the nervous
especially in urban areas. Despite being blessed
system. It also highlighted that residential,
with abundance of rainfall, water must be
agricultural and industrial wastes are three main
managed efficiently to ensure its sustainability
sources of river pollution in Malaysia. This article
and also to cater to demands for the generations
also identified several challenges fronting as
to come. Government should make all contracts
rural water supply and sanitation, recreational
in the water sector awarded through open
water and safe drinking water in Malaysia.
tender with public consultation to ensure
Finally, we discuss the water resource policies in
professionalism, fairness, transparency,
Malaysia and provide some recommendations
accountability and good governance. Equally, all
contracts and other relevant documents drawn
that will be helpful for policymakers to improve
river water quality, particularly in Malaysia.