Deepening knowledge exchange to enhance Malaysia’s water resilience
The long-standing cooperation in water management between Malaysia and the Netherlands receives a boost with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement, exchanged at the ASIANWATER Expo & Forum 2026, sets the basis for further collaboration, especially in flood mitigation, freshwater management, and wastewater management.
The governments of the Netherlands and Malaysia have steadily intensified their collaboration on water related matters for over a decade. Although knowledge exchange has existed for longer, it is in 2018 when the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands launches the Malaysia Netherlands Water Dialogue as a dedicated platform to connect and collaborate. Now, the bilateral cooperation on water sees a new milestone with the signing of a MoU on water management.
The memorandum was officially exchanged on 7 April 2026 at the 14th ASIAWATER Expo & Forum with the participation of H.E. Jacques Werner, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Malaysia; Dato’ Sri Haji Mad Zaidi Bin Mohd Karli, Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA); and, YB Dato' Sri Abdul Rahman Bin Haji Mohamad, Deputy Minister of PETRA. The agreement reflects a joint commitment to strengthening a sustainable and climate-resilient water management in Malaysia by matching Dutch expertise with Malaysia’s national water agenda.
Flood risk reduction efforts
Malaysia is prone to flooding, especially during the monsoon season. In recent years, the country is often facing the climate phenomenon of hydroclimatic whiplash, a rapid extreme shift from prolonged dry periods to torrential flooding in a short period of time. As reported by BERNAMA, the national news agency of Malaysia, His Royal Highness Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, spoke about this phenomenon in his Royal Address at the Opening of the Fourth Year of the 15th Perak State Legislative Assembly on 14 April. “This situation places immense strain on the resilience of existing infrastructure, which is increasingly unable to withstand the impact of unpredictable disasters. Therefore, proactive flood mitigation measures must be prioritised to ensure the safety and survival of the people,” he said.
Over the years, the facilitation of long-term flood management cooperation has been a key pillar between both nations. Specifically, the Dutch Disaster Risk Reduction & Surge Support programme has delivered onsite assistance with missions to Malaysia in 2018, 2022, and 2025. The recent MoU includes flood prevention and mitigation as a core element and provides new opportunities for knowledge sharing processes and deeper collaboration.
Resilient water future for Malaysia
During his address at ASIAWATER 2016, Datuk Amar Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of PETRA stressed the urgency of water security. "Water is the foundation upon which human civilisation is built. Reliable water supply and effective wastewater management underpin public health, sustain industries, safeguard our ecosystems, and enhance the resilience of our communities," he said.
The Netherlands and Malaysia have worked closely together in these two fields throughout the years. One of the latest activities in this regard is an online session on ‘Protecting Critical Freshwater Resources.’ The session is part of an ongoing webinar series organised by the Dutch Embassy and Climate Governance Malaysia. With the new MoU in place, both nations will have greater opportunities to tackle specific water challenges together, including those related to freshwater management and wastewater management.
