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WATER EDUCATION AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTpertaining to lakes and reservoirs in the country. This national colloquiumwas the first step towards dealing with the issues causing thedegradation of these important inland water resources, providinga platform for meaningful discussion as well as knowledge-sharingamong the various participants. Subsequently, the colloquiumprovided the initial inputs, and enabled further collaboration forconsequent action, towards the formulation of a national frameworkand consolidated plan for sound lake management in Malaysia.A Technical Committee on Lake Management was later jointly establishedby ASM and NAHRIM to move the national agenda forward andarticulate strategies to support the sustainable management of lakesand reservoirs in Malaysia. A framework for action was undertakenin 2008 to establish a comprehensive plan using a multi-stakeholderconsultative planning approach, beginning with a preliminary conceptualframework plan. The first multi-sector workshop involvingstakeholders from government agencies, the public and private sectorsand non-governmental organizations (NGOs) was held at NAHRIMin January 2008 to institute the Conceptual Framework for Lakes andReservoirs Management. The ‘logical framework approach’ was used asa planning instrument to guide stakeholders in the workshop in theiranalysis of the prevailing situation and any proposed measures to beundertaken. The final conceptual framework Plan provided the inputfor the draft of the vision and mission statement of the Strategic Plan.Preparation of more detailed component plans was synthesizedfrom thematic position papers which were subsequently consolidatedto further refine the conceptual framework Plan. A fresh round ofstakeholder consultations was held for each of the six themes: governance,management, research and development, capacity building,information management and community stakeholder participation.These consultations helped to refine the earlier findings and formulateplans of action for each component. The final National StrategicPlan for the Sustainable Development and Management of Lakes andReservoirs were finally developed, based on the analysisand findings in the conceptual framework plan and sixcomponent plans.This strategic plan, which incorporates the IntegratedLake Basin Management (ILBM) principles, was completedin 2009 and set the direction for future concerted actionby all stakeholders to sustainably manage the inland waterresources in the country. The national strategic plan wastabled to the National Water Resources Council in 2012,where the strategies were deliberated and endorsed forimplementation. Among the national strategies advocatedin the national strategic plan is the setting up of a steeringcommittee at federal level and a lake managementcommittee at the state level, to oversee the implementationof lake management based on an integrated lake basinapproach throughout the country. As with other countriesthat comprise federated nations, fragmented authority andconflicting mandates are common challenges in Malaysia.The national lake and reservoir management committeewill become a platform to improve coordination and cooperationbetween different ministries, federal agencies andwater-related institutions. The committee will also lookinto the provision of legislation, sufficient financing andpolitical commitment through the development of policieson lakes. At the state level, local coordination is beingstrengthened through a central state committee that willaddress lake issues at the catchment scale by engagingwith stakeholders and communities on matters related toland and water in its jurisdiction. A detailed plan of actionfor managing lakes and reservoirs is also being prepared toprovide a road map for implementing ILBM for the healthof the country’s inland water resources.Image: NAHRIMImage: NAHRIMChini Lake, the second largest freshwater natural lake in Malaysia. The lake shoresare inhabited by the aborigine Jakun tribePerdana Lake in Perdana Botanical Gardens, the oldest and mostpopular park in Kuala Lumpur[ 149 ]