The Malaysian Capacity Development Network for Sustainable Water Management (MyCDNet) and the Academy of Science Malaysia (ASM) co-hosted a 1 Day Capacity Development Programme on Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM). This event was held on 3 March 2016 at the Function Hall, Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Level 20, Menara MATRADE in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The capacity development programme was attended by approximately 40 persons from consultants, NGOs, Government bodies and institutions of higher learning in Malaysia.

The event kicked off with opening remarks by a representative from ASM and followed by a keynote address by the CEO of Indah Water Konsortium (Y.Bhg. Datuk Ir. Abdul Kadir) on ‘Holistic Sewerage Management as Integral part of National Water Resource Plan’. After tea break, there were another 5 papers on different aspects of IUWM i.e. introduction to IUWM (Dr Low Kwai Sim), water demand management (Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Ir. Syed Muhammad), integrated river basin management (Y.Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Hanapi), water sensitive urban design (Ir. C. Kamalesen) and corporate initiatives on IUWM (Dr. Renard Siew). All of the papers focused around a holistic mode of strategic planning which takes a landscape view of water challenges by looking at competing water users in an urban area, catchment or river basin.

After lunch, the group sessions began. The participants were divided into 3 groups and were given a set of questions for discussion. The discussions were moderated by the facilitators who were to guide the discussion. Each group appointed a leader who will then present the findings of the discussion.

After the presentation by the group leaders, the findings were synthesized and Q&A sessions were held. The programme ended at 4.30pm with a tea networking session.

INTRODUCTION
From 8-9 December, a Workshop cum Training for Trainers on Water Security and Safety Plan was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This workshop was jointly organised by the Malaysian Capacity Development Network for Sustainable Water Management (MyCDNet) in collaboration with Akademi Sains Malaysia (ASM), Malaysian Water Association (MWA), Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Malaysia (JPS) and Sime Darby, with full support from CapNet UNDP.
As an extension of the Millennium Development Goals, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were drafted to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. One of the SDGs was to ensure availability and sustainable management of water sanitation for all. As water scarcity is also making its way into Malaysia, water security and water safety planning is needed to ensure investment in adequate capacity building as well as infrastructure and facilities at every level. Protecting water-related ecosystems such as forests, mountains, wetlands and rivers is essential if we are to ensure water security and adequate renewable freshwater. The theme of ‘Water Security and Water Safety Planning’ therefore stretches your imagination to the wider perspectives of the water agenda for good water planning and governance for a secured water future where the environmental risk factors, such as contamination of water from source to consumers are taken into consideration.

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES
1. To provide training for a secured water future for long-term sustainability of water of acceptable quantity and quality for livelihoods, human well-being, health and socio-economic development;
2. To provide participants with a wider perspective on water in terms of water security and water safety that will enable them to plan their own water agenda in their own organizations;
3. To build new partnerships for knowledge sharing on good water governance;
4. To provide knowledge on the linkages of water and ecosystem services in the country.

WORKSHOP BRIEF
1. The opening of the Workshop was officiated by Dato’ Ir Lim Chow Hock, Network Manager of MyCDNet, who thanked the participants for their attendance and co-operations, and proceeded to give an introduction of the purpose of the Workshop.
2. The keynote address was delivered by Dato’ Ir Haji Hanapi bin Mohamad Noor, the Director of Water Resources Management and Hydrology Division, JPS). Dato’ Ir Haji Hanapi explained the importance of water security and the need of water safety planning to ensure that water remains a source that can be replenished.
3. Following the keynote address, Dr Low Kwai Sim from Akademi Sains Malaysia gave the first talk on Water Security and Water Safety Plans. The presentation describes the current overview of the water scarcity scenario in Malaysia as well as the world.
4. Mr Mansor Abd Ghani from MWA provided the facts and figures of the the current situation of water security in Malaysia. Furthermore, he also produced strategies for the future and describing water as a commodity.
5. Mr Lee Ming Enn gave an overview picture of the corporate sector and their contributions and initiatives with the water footprint management.
6. Ir C. Kamalesen provided the overall concept towards a secured water future by providing strategies and examples of managing the integrated approaches.
7. The final talk was given by Dr Low Kwai Sim regarding water safety planning and briefed on how the group discussion structure would be conducted.
8. The participants were divided into smaller groups to discuss issues of water security and safety planning.
9. On the second day, the participants were taken to the Sg Batu Water Treatment Plant where they were able to witness the current water treatment process and management as well as look at future options recyled water.

The Training for Trainers (ToT) on Sanitation and Water was held on 23rd to 25th November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The course was jointly organized by Malaysian Capacity Development for Sustainable Water Management (MyCDNet) and Indah Water Konsortium Sdn. Bhd. (IWK), Malaysia’s national sewerage company. This is the first ToT on Sanitation and Water course in Malaysia.
The ToT was conducted as part of capacity building program and an initiative to promote better understanding of the importance of proper sanitation for sustainable development and to protect water resource and the environment. The course enabled the participants to have a good understanding on having proper sewerage system, proper sewage treatment process, maintenance, effluent monitoring and refurbishment needed to both sewerage system and treatment facilities in order to ensure continuous effectiveness of sewage treatment and sewerage systems. With clear and proper understanding on the full cycle of sewerage management, the young engineers, students, consultants, and various interested parties can each play more impacted roles and educate their colleagues or close family members in simple yet important matters like desludging the homes’ septic tanks and encourage their colleagues to do the same and pay sewerage bills to sustain the important services rendered by the sewerage contractor to the public. It is also hoped that, having equipped with the proper knowledge, the participants will return to their organizations and agencies to promote the concept of proper sewerage and sanitation management, implement the knowledge gained wherever applicable for sustainable development.

The three day course included the proper training on planning of sewerage systems, operation, refurbishment, green technology and R&D in sewerage and site visit to Bunus Regional Sewage Treatment Facility. On the first day, the course was officially opened by MyCDNet representative, who read out MYCDNet’s Chairman, Dato’ Lim Chow Hock’s opening remarks as he was overseas at that time. It was followed by the invited speaker from Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (LUAS), Ms. Norfazilah Shaharudin who is the legal officer of LUAS. She provided the overall legislative enforced under the law to regulate water resource activities within the State of Selangor. After that, the invited speaker from Department Environment, Mr. Saiful Salihin is Assistant Director General of EiMAS (a training arms of Department of Environment) delivered a talk explaining the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and Environmental Quality (Sewage) Regulation 2009 enforced under the law on sewerage activities. In the afternoon, the participants were transported in a bus to visit the Regional Sewage Treatment Plant located in Bunus which is about 15 km from the training venue.

The second day started with planning for appropriate sanitation and water system, presented by Ir. Zakariah Mohd Yassin, the Central Planning Unit’s Senior Manager of IWK, followed by presentation on type of sewage treatment system presented by Ms. Ruhaidah Md Hassan, the Manager of Environmental Management Unit of IWK. The afternoon session’s presentation is on Desludging and Sewer Maintenance by Mr. A. Ghani Mohammad, the Head of Section of Network and Desludging of IWK KL Operation Unit Office. It was followed by a topic on Sewage Treatment Plants, Sludge Reception Facilities and Centralised Sludge Treatment Facilities Maintenance presented by Mr. Ja’farsidik Muhammad, the Treatment Manager from IWK Head Office.

The last day started with presentation by the Treatment Manager of KL Operation Unit Office, Mr, Tan Kok Yean on Monitoring of Effluent Discharge and River Water (Internal) and followed by Mr. Saiful Salihin of EiMAS –DOE on Monitoring of Effluent Discharge and River Water (External). Afterward that, Ms. Lim Pek Boon, the Manager of R&D Unit presented on Green Technology Application in sewerage sector. The last speaker was Ir. Mohd Zuki Muda, the Head of Capital Work and Refurbishment who presented Restoration and Rehabilitation on Failures/ Scenarios. Throughout the three days, the participants were free to ask questions related to various topics presented. The closing remark was given by Dr Low Kwai Sim, the advisor of MyCDNET Malaysia. Dr. Low gave a summary on the ToT successfully completed, highlights on MyCDNet – its roles, functions and activities and she encouraged the participants to become members so that they can have a good platform to play active and more effective role in promoting sustainable IWRM. She explained on the importance to provide a feedback after six months of the ToT on usage of the knowledge gained. On that, MyCDNet will do a follow up with all participants. All participants have given commitment to provide the feedback.

Based on the training evaluation survey carried out at the end of the course among 27 participants, majority of them agreed that the course was very good as it gave full understanding on what sewerage management is all about, the importance and impacts on the river and water resources if sewage is not managed properly. Most of the participants agreed that the stated aims and objectives met their expectations. They agreed that all the trainers were qualified and knowledgeable on the subject delivered as the trainers have many years of experience in their field.