Development Must Factor In Downstream Impact, Not Just Project Boundaries - Fadillah

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- Land clearing, river alterations and water catchment development must consider the impact on downstream communities, not just those within project boundaries, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said.

Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, emphasised that upstream development decisions can carry consequences far beyond project boundaries, particularly as Malaysia grapples with increasingly complex challenges involving floods, shifting rainfall patterns and climate change.

He said water resilience must therefore remain a strategic national priority, shaping how towns are planned, land is managed, water catchments are protected and infrastructure investments are undertaken.

"What happens upstream has consequences downstream. A decision to clear land, alter a river or develop a catchment can affect communities far beyond the boundaries of a project," he said when officiating the inaugural International Conference on Ecohydrology and Water Resilience (ICEWR 2026) at The Everly Putrajaya, today.

Fadillah stressed that every development decision must consider the source of water, how it flows and whom it affects, since water systems are interconnected regardless of administrative boundaries.

He said climate change, rapid urbanisation, growing water demand and the increasing frequency of water-related challenges require greater foresight and coordination in managing the country's water resources.

The Deputy Prime Minister said dams, drainage networks and flood mitigation structures remain essential in protecting communities, but their effectiveness could be enhanced by preserving natural ecosystems.

"Dams, drainage networks and flood mitigation structures remain essential to protecting our communities. Their effectiveness can be strengthened when we understand and preserve the natural systems around them," he said.

He said healthy water catchments play an important role in regulating water flows, while wetlands could store water, slow its movement and help filter pollutants.

Fadillah said nature-based solutions, when properly designed and maintained, can complement conventional engineering infrastructure in addressing water-related risks while delivering wider environmental benefits.

He also emphasised the importance of closer cooperation among agencies responsible for water management, environmental protection, land-use planning and infrastructure development to ensure more effective and coordinated decisions.

"Water connects our actions, even when our administrative responsibilities are divided," he added.

Fadillah said Malaysia has developed practical approaches to river management, flood mitigation, urban drainage and sustainable stormwater management, supported by research institutions and universities.

He cited three UNESCO Ecohydrology Demonstration Sites as examples, namely Putrajaya Lake and Wetlands, the Sustainable Stormwater Management Project at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia in Johor and the Bio-Ecological Drainage System (BIOECODS) at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang.

He said these sites serve as platforms for researchers, policymakers and engineers to evaluate solutions and identify approaches that could be adapted elsewhere.

Fadillah also called for scientific evidence and practical experience to be incorporated into development planning and infrastructure investment, with successful solutions tested, evaluated and expanded where appropriate.

He said stronger partnerships, research and community participation are essential to achieving safer neighbourhoods, healthier rivers and cities better prepared for a changing climate.

"Water resilience begins before the first warning and before the first flood. It begins with the choices we make today," he stressed.

Organised by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (JPS Malaysia) and Humid Tropics Centre (HTC) Kuala Lumpur with UNESCO, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and other strategic partners, the two-day conference was held under the theme "Ecohydrology and Water Resilience: Advancing Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Water Systems."

It drew 200 participants, including policymakers, industry representatives, academicians, non-governmental organisations and international partners, to foster sustainable collaboration toward a secure and resilient water future.

-- BERNAMA