Malaysia's IWK appointed ADB mentor for Indonesian wastewater utilities

Malaysia's national sewerage company, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn. Bhd., has been selected by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to mentor three wastewater management utilities in Indonesia. This appointment, under the Water Organizations Partnerships for Resilience (WOP4R) program, underscores Malaysia's growing role in advancing sustainable wastewater management across the region.

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Building a resilient organization involves more than just infrastructure development; it requires capable workforces, effective systems, strong collaboration, and a commitment to continuous learning.

The 18-month partnership was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony involving ADB, IWK, and the Indonesian utilities: Dinas Pekerjaan Umum (Dinas PU) Kota Makassar, Dinas Pekerjaan Umum dan Perancangan Ruang (Dinas PUPR) Kota Jambi, and Dinas PUPR Kota Pekanbaru. This initiative is co-funded by the Gates Foundation and the Japan Special Fund.

IWK's Chief Executive Officer, Narendran Maniam, stated that the appointment reflects a regional recognition of IWK's expertise and the importance of inter-utility cooperation. "Building a resilient organization involves more than just infrastructure development; it requires capable workforces, effective systems, strong collaboration, and a commitment to continuous learning," Maniam said. He expressed pride in being entrusted to mentor the utilities in Makassar, Jambi, and Pekanbaru, emphasizing the goal of strengthening institutions, empowering human capital, and delivering lasting community benefits through knowledge sharing.

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We are honored to be entrusted to serve as a utility mentor for Makassar, Jambi, and Pekanbaru.

Through the WOP4R program, IWK will offer technical assistance, guidance, and knowledge exchange to help the Indonesian utilities implement their action plans. The focus will be on improving operational performance, asset management, safety, and service efficiency. These three utilities are beneficiaries of the ADB-funded Metropolitan Sanitation Management Investment Project, which supports the development of centralized sewerage systems and wastewater treatment plants in their respective cities.

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Through knowledge sharing and capacity building, we can strengthen institutions, empower human capital, and deliver lasting benefits to communities.

Maniam highlighted the significance of this collaboration in addressing complex industry challenges such as urbanization, climate change, resource constraints, and evolving customer expectations. "When we strengthen one utility, we strengthen the resilience of the entire region," he added. This initiative marks a significant milestone in regional cooperation, being ADB's first twin cluster collaboration under the second phase of the WOP4R program. IWK is also part of the Steering Committee for the 300 Water Leaders initiative, promoting collaborative learning.

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When we strengthen one utility, we strengthen the resilience of the entire region.