SHAH ALAM – Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) Youth is taking seriously the water supply disruptions affecting several areas in the state following reports that water levels at the Benut River and Machap Dam have reached critical levels.
The coalition cited media reports stating that the Simpang Renggam Water Treatment Plant is currently operating at a reduced capacity due to shortage of raw water sources, directly affecting residents’ daily lives and raising concerns over the state’s water resource management amid rapid industrial development.
While welcoming incoming investments, including high-technology industries such as data centres that can spur economic growth, the coalition stressed that development must be balanced with the capacity of basic infrastructure.
"At a time when the public is being asked to conserve water due to supply disruptions, questions arise as to whether water-intensive industries, including data centres, are continuing to operate as usual.
"The public also wants to know how the state government balances industrial needs with the community’s basic right to clean water supply, as well as the short- and long-term plans to prevent a similar crisis from recurring," Johor PH Youth said in a recent statement.
The statement was signed by Johor Amanah Youth chief Muhammad Taqiuddin Cheman and Johor Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) chief Faezuddin Puad.
Johor is Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing data centre hub, according to DC Byte, with data centre capacity estimated at 1.6 gigawatts in 2024 and projected to increase to 2.6 gigawatts by 2027.
So far, Johor has secured investments for the construction of 72 data centres, with 13 already in operation.
Major players include Nvidia, AirTrunk, GDS International, YTL Power and Princeton Digital Group, while Microsoft is reported to have acquired land in Kulai for the development of a new data centre.
According to industry resource site Baxtel, Johor has 13 data centre facilities covering more than 1.65 million square feet of land area and is currently ranked as Malaysia’s largest data centre market and the ninth largest in the Asia-Pacific region.
Johor PH Youth stressed that it does not blame investors or industries, but instead focuses on the efficiency of the state government’s water resource governance in line with rapid economic development.
As such, the coalition urged the state government to provide an open explanation of the actual water supply capacity and to present a clear mitigation plan to address current disruptions and long-term risks.
"Priority must be given to the welfare of the people in every development decision," it said.
Concerns over water supply pressure in Johor had previously been raised when the state government was reported to be reassessing the potential use of groundwater as an alternative source to support the growth of the data centre industry.
On Feb 7, Johor Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Telecommunications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said earlier studies found that groundwater resources in the state were limited, but a reassessment was proposed using more advanced technology.
This view is in line with the recommendation by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Campus Sustainability Centre director Professor Dr Mohd Fadhil Md Din, who suggested exploring alternative water sources to reduce pressure on the public water supply system, especially when data centre developments take place in clusters.