FAOLEX Database

Malaysia - Aqualex Profiles

Framework Law

The main law applicable to water resources management, which covers all of the following areas: administration; management, conservation and use of freshwater resources; water rights; waterworks; water supply
Water Ordinance, 1994.
Date of original text: 24 November 1994 (2008)

Constitutional provisions

Federal Constitution of Malaysia.
Date of text: 22 September 2021

Right to water: No provisions regarding the right to food.

Natural resources: Article 78 concerns the legal requirements for a law restricting the rights of a State or its residents to the use for navigation or irrigation of any river wholly within that State. Article 91 establishing a Land Council sets forth in its 5th paragraph that It shall be the duty of the National Land Council to formulate from time to time in consultation with the Federal Government, the State Governments and the National Finance Council a national policy for the promotion and control of the utilisation of land throughout the Federation for mining, agriculture, forestry or any other purpose, and for the administration of any laws relating thereto; and the Federal and State Governments shall follow the policy so formulated. Article 92 providing for the development plan sets forth a plan for the development, improvement, or conservation of the natural resources of a development area, the exploitation of such resources, or the increase of means of employment in the area.

Agriculture

Water used for irrigation, forestry and aquaculture
Irrigation Areas Act, 1953.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1989)
Drainage Works Act 1954.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1988)
Drainage and Irrigation Ordinance, 1956 (No. 15)
Date of text: 22 September 2021

Water Supply and Sanitation

Provision of water services by public utilities or commercial organizations; water supply for domestic, industrial or other purposes; right to safe and clean drinking water and basic sanitation; quality of piped water; sewerage
Water Services Industry Act, 2006.
Date of original text: 10 July 2006 (2009)
Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara Act, 2006.
Date of text: 10 July 2006
Sewerage Services Act, 1993 (No. 508)
Date of text: 22 September 1993

Governance

The political, social, economic and administrative systems that govern water management and conservation; good practices; good governance; decentralization; water user’s associations
Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara Act, 2006.
Date of text: 10 July 2006
Irrigation Areas Act, 1953.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1989)
Drainage Works Act 1954.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1988)

Infrastructure

Waterworks; water supply systems; dams; hydropower systems; irrigation systems
Irrigation Areas Act, 1953.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1989)
Drainage Works Act 1954.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1988)
Drainage and Irrigation Ordinance, 1956 (No. 15)
Date of text: 22 September 2021

Water Resources Management and Water Rights

Ownership and control of water resources; abstraction and diversion of water; allocation and quotas; riparian rights; priority of rights; free water use
Waters Act 1920.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1989)
Waters Act 1920 (Act 418).
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1989)
Waters Act, 1920 (No. 418)
Date of text: 22 September 2021

Water and Environment

Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara Act, 2006.
Date of text: 10 July 2006
Irrigation Areas Act, 1953.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1989)
Drainage Works Act 1954.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1988)

Water Quality and Pollution Control

Control of pollution and quality of freshwater bodies and groundwater; agricultural point and non-point sources of pollution; water quality standards
Waters Act 1920.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1989)
Sewerage Services Act, 1993 (No. 508)
Date of text: 22 September 1993
Irrigation Areas Act, 1953.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1989)

Groundwater

Freshwater resources located below the surface of the earth; aquifers; groundwater abstraction; well-sinking; boreholes; hydrogeology
Sabah Water Resources Enactment 1998 (No. 6)
Date of text: 30 September 1998

Disaster Resilience

Water-related hazards; flood; drought; water shortage; adaptation to climate change; early warning system/emergency intervention system
Waters Act 1920.
Date of original text: 22 September 2021 (1989)

Transboundary Waters

Transboundary effects; international basin institutions; international agreements; transboundary coordination; transboundary aquifers
No legislation available

Policies

Intended Nationally Determined Contribution of the Government of Malaysia.
Date of text: 16 November 2016
Eleventh Malaysia Plan 2016-2020: Anchoring Growth On People.
Date of text: 16 May 2015
National Policy on Climate Change.
Date of text: 20 November 2009
National Environmental Policy 2002.
Date of text: 02 October 2002

Main basins

Golok
Patani
Perlis
Sembakung
Siboekoe
Bangau
Pandaruan