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There is a mismatch between supply and demand of water in the country. The Malaysia Water Industry Guide 2001 indicates that from 1995 - 1999, demand for water increased by 18 percent but the supply capacity increased by 14 percent only. The Eight Malaysia Plan anticipates that the demand for water for domestic and industrial use will increase by 5.4 per cent per year from 2001 to 2005. The National Water Resources Study (2000-2050) indicates that total demand for water - industrial, domestic and irrigation - will increase by 63 per cent between 2000 and 2050. Specifically, the demand will increase from 10,833 million cubic meters in 2000 to 17,675 million cubic meters in 2050. The country has more than 478 water plants with a total production capacity exceeding 9 million cubic meters per day. Malaysia has one of the highest rainfall figures in the world, with an annual average of about 3,000 mm (118 inches). Yet this does not mean availability of unlimited supply of water to meet the ever - increasing demand for water in the country. Malaysia faces a potential water crisis, especially in water - deficit states. these states will face a water crisis, including shortage of drinking water and periodic droughts, which has serious ramifications on the economic life of the nation and social life of people. Thus, water supply planning is an important challenge to Malaysia , one in which there is a need for multi - stake holder responsibility. The water shortage in the country is direct outcome of a development trajectory that promotes economic and material pursuits, and destroys the environment. A lack of political will on the part of the state, poor enforcement by the authorities, wedded to a lackadaisical citizenry, has contributed to a sad state of water affair, one that can potentially deny people the basic necessity of life, water. This is a problem where the state, private sector and people are jointly culpable. The gross exploitation of the environment - over logging, development of hill land leading to excessive soil erosion and landslides , logging at and destruction of water catchments areas and people treating rivers as rubbish bins - has contributed to the shortage of water. Logging in catchments areas should not be allowed, given the water shortage, drying reservoirs, and river siltation. Further more, commercial and housing development around catchments areas, and excessive river pollution caused by commercial chemical waste, have exacerbated the problem.
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