Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), Malaysia

Dato’ Ir. Lim Chow Hock

1. Introduction and Background

2. Managing Lake Resources – The Challenges We Face

3. National Strategy – The Way Forward

4. Summary

1.1 General Information Table 1: Inventory of Lakes in Malaysia

No. State Number Area (km2) Volume (M m3)

1. Perlis 2 13.33 40.00

2. Kedah 7 105.625 2486.36

3. Perak 11 284.68 6766.50

4. Selangor 15 11.38 511.32

5. Pahang 10 94.69 321.51

6. Kelantan 4 17.41 88.94

7. Johor 13 84.47 940.024

8. Labuan 3 n.a 5.4

9. Melaka 4 8.75 81.3

10. N. Sembilan 5 2.25 182.325

11. P.Pinang 4 0.936 47.2

12. Sabah 5 n.a 29.61

13. Sarawak 4 n.a 6080

14. Terengganu 2 370.8 13600

15. Putrajaya 1 7.5 45

Total 90 1,001.821 31,225.489

• Excluding ox-bow lakes, mining pools and newer dam projects

• Intrinsic significance eg:

– sacred sites for religious and

spiritual activities

• Ecosystem functions and services eg:

– absorb large

inflows of water

during floods and

influence on local

climate

Lakes: A

Valuable Resource

Direct Values

Indirect Values

Option Values

Non-use

Values

A place for possible future use and application including preservation eg: - waterfront development

Consumptive and non-consumptive use of resources eg:

- source of water for drinking, hydro-power, industry and irrigation

- fishery, recreation

1.3 Factors to be considered in Managing Lake

Resources

Long Retention Times (Lentic) • Stagnancy •Absorb large inputs of flood waters, pollutants, sediments and heat

Complex Response Dynamics •Obscure responses to stressor •Eutrophication occurs when nutrients are already very high

Integrating Nature •Interact with surrounding catchment, rivers, rain & wind •Retain the effects within itself

•Year 2004/2005: ASM & NAHRIM jointly initiated “A Study on the Status of Eutrophication of Lakes in Malaysia” undertaken by the Institute of Environment and Water Resource Management, UTM The Study highlighted that 56 of the 90

lakes studied were eutrophic while the rest mesotrophic

•ASM, NAHRIM with the support of NRE held a National Colloquium on the Management of Lakes and Reservoirs in August 2007

Consensus and call for a National Plan for Integrated Lake and Reservoir Management

•ASM & NAHRIM jointly led the Technical Committee on Lake Management to prepare a Strategic Plan through a wide stakeholder consultation process undertaken in 2008

•The Strategy Plan for the Sustainable Development and Management of Lakes and Reservoirs was completed in May 2009

Main Issues

Pollution & Habitat Degradation

Pollution and habitat degradation is probably the single most important factor leading to the loss of function value in many lakes and reservoirs

The lack of civic awareness among many urban communities

Lack of proper sewerage and industrial effluent treatment infrastructure

Logging and land clearing

Excessive soil erosion and sedimentation

Eutrophication- 62% of 90 lakes in Malaysia classified as eutrophicated

Other Issues

4. Public Awareness & Stakeholder Participation

3. Information Management& Knowledge

Dissemination

5. Manpower &

Human Resources

Issues

2. Fragmented Policy, Legal &

Governance Framework

1. Lack of Sustained Research & Development

3.1 Development of a

National Vision for Malaysian lakes

3.2 The development of a Policy Framework for Malaysian lakes

3.3 The development of a

Mission Statement for lake

management

3.4 The development of a Strategy Framework

for Malaysian lake management

Four major interventions were recommended under the 2009 Study on “Strategies For The Sustainable Development and Management of Lakes and Reservoirs in Malaysia”

Approved at the 7th National Water Resources Council on 1st Nov 2012

The National Vision (which follows the World Lake Vision):

“Engender the sustainable use of lakes for their ecosystem services and economic values”

The Policy Statement :

“Lakes and reservoirs are sustained, restored and protected

through the adoption of an Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM) approach”

National Water Resources Policy

The Mission Statement would provide a sense of direction and orientate strategies to achieve the outcomes exemplified in the Vision statement:

“To engender sound management of lakes through the adoption and application of IWRM principles and practices”

8 strategies: Strategy I: Identify and Empower a Lead

Ministry/Agency Strategy II: Establish a National Lake Resource

Centre under NRE Strategy III: Establish a Steering Committee on

Lakes within the purview of the National Water Resources Council

Strategy IV: Establish Lake Management Committees at State Level

8 strategies (Contd.): Strategy V: Development of a Detailed

Action Plan

Strategy VI: Support the Role of Local Communities in Lake Management

Strategy VII: Pass appropriate legislation to strengthen existing legal framework

Strategy VIII: Enhance networking and strengthen international strategic alliances

The ministry that best lends itself to this is Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE)

The agency that best lends itself to this enhanced mandate is the Department of Drainage and Irrigation Malaysia

Role of DID: Facilitating the coordination of various agencies with respect

to lake and reservoir management; Identify management standards and audit performance; Develop the necessary human resources through training and

extension and Provide technical support

Appropriate manpower and financial resources would have to

be provided to NRE and DID to take on this task

The National Lake Resource Centre (NLRC), would act as:

A centre of excellence for research into lakes and lake management

A reference centre and database for all information and research on lakes in Malaysia

The Centre to be in NAHRIM because:

Consistent with its function and mandate

NAHRIM already has strong links with local research institutions and universities

NAHRIM is located within NRE and this would better enable intra-agency coordination

The National Water Resources Council (NWRC) bring State and Federal stakeholders together to engender consensus on water management

Lakes comprise one of three vital sources of water (the other two being rivers and groundwater)

A steering committee should be set up under the NWRC to oversee the integrated lake management within the river basin

NRE is best positioned to lead this steering committee

Steering Committee for IRBM including Management of Lakes and Reservoirs

Chairman •KETUA SETIAUSAHA

KEMENTERIAN SUMBER ASLI DAN ALAM

SEKITAR

Members:

1.Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air

2.Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani

3.Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan

4.Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pelancongan

Steering Committee for IRBM including Management of Lakes and Reservoirs

…contd. Chairman •KETUA SETIAUSAHA

KEMENTERIAN SUMBER ASLI DAN ALAM

SEKITAR

Members:

5. Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar & Wilayah

6. Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan dan Kesejahteraan Bandar

7. Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi

Steering Committee for IRBM including Management of Lakes and Reservoirs

…contd.

Urusetia :Ketua Pengarah JPS

1. Ketua Pengarah Unit Perancang Ekonomi, JPM

2. Ketua Pengarah Bekalan Air

3. Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Perikanan

4. Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains

5. Ketua Pengarah Institut Penyelidikan Hidraulik Kebangsaan Malaysia

6. Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia

7. Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pembangunan Bandar dan Desa

Steering Committee for IRBM including Management of Lakes and Reservoirs

…contd.

Urusetia :Ketua Pengarah JPS

8. Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pertanian

9. MADA

10. ASM

11. DBKL

12. Perbadanan Putrajaya

13. TNB

14. Local Authorities

15. Others

Term of Reference / Tasks

• Monitor the implementation of policies / programs on IRBM including lakes and reservoirs

• A forum to discuss issues related to the implementation of IRBM including lakes and reservoirs programs between the Ministries and the related government agencies in both Federal and State levels

• Suggest and recommend changes to policy and strategies related to IRBM including lakes and reservoirs

These committees would be at the political level of Government, allowing coordination among the various agencies at state level

Modelled after State Water Resources / River Management Committees (or preferably to include ILBM in agenda of these existing committees)

To be headed by Menteri Besar or State Executive Councillor or State Minister

Among the tasks: ◦ To ensure that all lakes and reservoirs (inclusive of buffer zones)

are gazetted as environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) ◦ To require approve development in and around lake areas ◦ To prescribe Special Area Plans or equivalent

The preliminary activities and action plans that have been identified in the workshops can be a basis on developing a detailed Plan of Action

More detailed assessment should be undertaken on the current status and health of lake resources in the country.

To be prepared by JPS with assistance of NAHRIM and ASM in consultation with all relevant stakeholders

Strategy V: Development of a Detailed Action Plan….contd.

• 3 series of reports:

• 1st series , 22 – 23 February 2010, Putrajaya (completed)

• 2nd series, 10 – 11 May 2011, Cameron Highland

(completed)

• 3rd series, 27 – 28 September 2012), Paya Indah Wetland (in progress)

Task 1 : Establishment of the Lake Brief Reports by NAHRIM

• 1st series , 22 – 23 February 2010, Putrajaya

1. Chini Lake, Pahang

2. Loagan Bunut Lake, Sarawak

3. Bukit Merah Lake, Perak

4. Kenyir Lake, Terengganu

5. Putrajaya Lake, Putrajaya

6. Terip Lake, N. Sembilan

7. Timah Tasoh Dam, Perlis

8. Pedu/Muda Dam, Kedah

Task 1 : Establishment of the Lake Brief Report

• 2nd series, 10 – 11 May 2011, Cameron Highland

1. Bera Lake, Pahang

2. Paya Indah Wetland, Selangor

3. Beris Dam, Kedah

4. Sembrong Dam, Johor

5. Ringlet Lake, Pahang

6. Chenderoh Dam, Perak

7. Klang Gate Dam, Selangor

8. Sungai Selangor Dam, Selangor

Task 1 : Establishment of the Lake Brief Report….contd.

• 3rd series, 27 – 28 September 2012, Paya Indah Wetland

1. Batang Ai Lake, Sarawak

2. Bukit Kwong Dam, Kelantan

3. Babagoon Lake, Sabah

4. Durian Tunggal Dam, Melaka

5. Taiping Lake, Perak

6. Subang Dam, Selangor

7. Langat Dam, Selangor (continued…)

Task 1 : Establishment of the Lake Brief Report….contd.

• 3rd series, 27 – 28 September 2012, Paya Indah Wetland

8. FRIM Lake, Selangor

9. Jor Dam, Perak

10. Pergau Dam, Kelantan

11. Perdana Lake, Kuala Lumpur

12. Titiwangsa Lake, Kuala Lumpur

Task 1 : Establishment of the Lake Brief Report….contd.

• Chairman : Director of River Basin and Coastal

Zone Management Division,

DID Malaysia

• Members*: JPS States (Perlis, Perak), Perhutanan (Sarawak), UPEN (Pahang), MADA,

Perbadanan Putrajaya, TNB

(Terangganu), Syarikat Air (Negeri

Sembilan)

* According to the list in a first series of lakes brief

Task 2 : Establishment of the Technical Committee On ILBM

•Meeting 3 times a year

•Meeting in 2012 :

1) 1st meeting on 7th August 2012

2) 2nd meeting on 22nd October 2012

•Output:

To formulate strategic action plan including annual operational plan for each lake (based on templates by Putrajaya Lake and Chini Lake and with reference to ILEC Platform Process Guidelines)

Task 2 : Establishment of the Technical Committee On ILBM….contd.

The public can play a major role in lake management

An example would be creation of a community stakeholder committees (alternatively called citizens’ advisory committee, “rakan tasik” or “friends of the lake”). These can provide: ◦ Valuable insights and information about past conditions of a lake

or reservoir, particularly in the absence of written records ◦ Knowledge on lake management can be disseminated easily

among basins population

Environmental NGOs have already started community lake based movements

Appropriate legislation is needed to enable management of lakes as a resource

Legislation: ◦ Where they exist, should be expanded in scope to cover

lake management eg. Water Act/ Enactment

◦ Where they don’t exist, they need to be framed, eg to incorporate in proposed Water Resources Act

◦ All legislation should cover RAMSAR sites

The problems that beset Malaysian lakes are universal Networking and international alliances would enable

the country to: ◦ Learn from experiences of other countries ◦ Share our own with them

Many linkages have already been established ◦ Malaysia is an important member of ILEC ◦ Involved in ILBM-Governance Project

Through these linkages, the country would be able to become a leading advocate of lake management in the region; NAHRIM , DID and Perbadanan Putrajaya to play prominent role

Lakes represent an undervalued resource

The lentic characteristic of lakes requires special attention within the river basin and a fundamental shift in management to prevent degradation is necessary

The 7th NWRC has approved on 1st Nov 2012 the recommendations as proposed in the paper on strategic plan for lake management prepared by NAHRIM and ASM

Amongst others, the following important matters have been agreed :

◦ NRE as the coordinating ministry with JPS as the agency

to champion the policy and strategies and NAHRIM as the Resource Centre

◦ Vision, Policy Framework and Mission Statement for lakes management in Malaysia

◦ A consensual mechanism within which the State and Federal Governments can work together including the formation of necessary Steering Committee under NRE and appropriate (new or existing) State Level Committee

◦ Action plan to be developed for each lake in order to pursue and realize the Policy goals and objectives

Thank you