BANGKOK: Water has moved from a basic resource to a strategic commodity in Sarawak’s economic transition.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said water would underpin both community needs and new industries as the state pursues a more resilient and sustainable future.
“Water is more than a resource; it is a ‘new commodity’ at the heart of Sarawak’s journey toward a resilient and sustainable future.
“It sustains the livelihoods of our people and powers our green energy ambitions, from hydropower to hydrogen production,” he said.
He said this in his keynote address at the International Water Association (IWA) Water and Development Congress & Exhibition (WDEC) 2025 held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, here today (Dec 9).
Elaborating on the matter further during a press conference, he pointed out that global economic transition towards artificial intelligence, semiconductors and other modern technologies would further increase demand for water.
“Now we are in the midst of transitioning to what we call modern technology such as AI and semiconductors. These new industries need water for the cooling system,” he said.
He noted that some countries were already exporting water and said regions with surplus resources could one day share water with neighbours that faced shortages.
“In other words, if there is a demand for this water, there is a possibility that countries that have surplus water will share water with the other countries that haven’t got enough water,” he said.
Abang Johari added that Sarawak was in a favourable position because of its many rivers, which are fully within the state’s borders and give it a strong base of water resources.
“The only thing is we need new technologies and that water can be shared with our neighbours who need water, just like power,” he said.
He also linked water to Sarawak’s wider energy transition.
“Water has to be managed prudently and also water can be a source of other industries such as hydrogen.
“Hydrogen is a very important fuel for the future because it can replace fossil fuels,” he said.
He said water would be central to both industrial growth and climate mitigation, and expressed hope that the International Water Association (IWA) would step up research on how to balance industrial use of water with efforts to address climate issues.
“Water is important in the light of this transformation and we do hope that the IWA will be doing a lot of research on how to balance the use of water for industrial use and also water for us to mitigate climate issues,” he said.
