Kuala Lumpur, 7th April 2010 – The Malaysian Water Association (MWA), represented by its President Ahmad Zahdi Jamil, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd, Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and PBA Resources Sdn Bhd on the establishment of Malaysia’s first water academy. The event took place at the Opening Ceremony of Asia Water Exhibition 2010 held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The ceremony was witnessed by YB Dato’ Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui, Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Malaysia.

The Academy’s role is to be a centre of knowledge and excellence for the development of human capital and technology enhancement in the water and wastewater industry. MWA will form collaborative partnerships with water industry players, be it water operators, regulators, designers, contractors, experts from academia or institutions of higher learning to meet these three objectives:

1. To provide Institutional Support for Government Initiatives towards development of quality workforce for global competitiveness / liberalization of the water industry;
2. To provide integrated and accredited education & training for all stakeholders across the public & private divide of the water & wastewater sectors;
3. To provide strategic platform for Collaborative Research and Innovations between Academia & Industry, Local & Foreign experts.

According to Ahmad Zahdi, “MWA has always been a staunch supporter of the Government’s National Water Services Industry Restructuring Initiative, and by establishing the Academy we hope to produce skilled and qualified workforce and also for Malaysia to become the regional water hub for capacity development”. Ultimately, he mentions, all these will translate into an overall improvement in water services for consumers.

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