Water Security Management in Malaysia: Challenges, Technological Innovations, and Strategic Lessons from Global Practice

Water security management is critical to ensuring the availability, accessibility, and quality of water for both human and environmental needs, particularly amid intensifying global pressures such as population growth, industrialisation, and climate change. In Malaysia, persistent challenges—including ageing infrastructure, high non-revenue water (NRW), governance fragmentation, and uneven adoption of smart water technologies—continue to undermine the reliability and sustainability of water supply systems. This review synthesises existing literature to examine the structural, institutional, technological, and social dimensions shaping Malaysia’s water security landscape. A narrative literature review approach is employed, complemented by comparative analysis of selected international experiences facing governance, climatic, and infrastructure constraints similar to those encountered in Malaysia. The review is guided by clearly defined research questions addressing gaps related to NRW management, governance coordination, smart water technologies, tariff reform, and community engagement. The analysis demonstrates that Malaysia’s water security challenges are not driven by physical water scarcity alone, but by systemic weaknesses in governance coordination, infrastructure efficiency, regulatory coherence, climate resilience, and public participation. Comparative insights highlight that sustained improvements in water security require integrated approaches that combine technological innovation with institutional reform, performance-based regulation, and active community involvement. By integrating governance, technological adoption, and community engagement within a single analytical perspective, this review advances beyond fragmented technical or policy-focused studies. The findings provide a structured synthesis of challenges and transferable strategic lessons that can inform policy development, operational planning, and future research on water security management in Malaysia and in comparable contexts.