Malaysia's Sungai water retention ponds ease Klang Valley water shortages

The construction of Sungai water retention ponds (TAPS) has significantly eased drinking water shortages in the Klang Valley over the past decade, proving that managing excess water can yield substantial national benefits. Emeritus Datuk Seri Dr. Zaini Ujang, an Adjunct Professor at the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), highlighted this success.

He explained that excess water during heavy rainfall should not solely be viewed through the lens of flood mitigation but utilized more holistically. The implementation of TAPS, specifically for rainwater harvesting, has been a key strategy. "The latest project is the construction of TAPS for raw water supply in Rasau, within the Klang River basin. After we built TAPS about 10 years ago, the problem of drinking water supply disruptions in the Klang Valley, including during dry seasons, was significantly reduced," Zaini stated at the Monsoon Bah Symposium 2026 in Bangi.

Zaini added that Malaysia needs to develop water canal systems, mirroring practices in other nations. "Rivers that have been upgraded can be utilized more effectively if supported by a good pumping system to channel water from areas with surplus supply to areas experiencing shortages. This is something researchers and planners, both in academia and relevant government agencies, are beginning to discuss. The mindset needs to shift towards utilizing excess water," he urged.

He pointed to countries like the Netherlands and Japan, which face various natural disaster risks, including floods, but have successfully used excess water for development in sectors like agriculture, energy generation, and tourism. "The Netherlands, which is only the size of Pahang state, is the second-largest agricultural producer in the world because it has effectively utilized its water resources," Zaini noted, advocating for Malaysia to learn from such nations.