But experts have cautioned that meeting the timeline may become challenging given the scale of design.  ,
They cited that on average, dams usually take about eight years to construct. Even though water treatment plants may be designed and commissioned in two decades, the pools are essential in increasing the volume of natural ocean Johor collects, they added.  ,
However, some are sceptical that the five-year timetable is attainable provided there is assistance from Putrajaya.  ,
” Achieving the precise water resources within five years is a major problem, but not an unattainable one”, water value and modelling professional Zaki Zainuddin told CNA.  ,
He stressed that this problem is particularly serious for Malaysia to maintain Johor aims for self-sufficiency in ocean provide and resources.  ,
” This is especially relevant for Johor ( often regarded as Malaysia’s second or third most developed state ). The necessity is further amplified by Johor’s interests in the data center business”, said Zaki, who is an expert panelist for Malaysia’s Department of Environment and is assistant to economic advisory firms.  ,
Conservation professor Serina Rahman, who is a teacher with the National University of Singapore’s Southeast Asian Studies office, echoed similar views.  ,
She told CNA:” Johor has had an influx of investment in recent years so I think financially ( supporting quick construction of the projects ) might not be a problem- especially if there is top-down support ( from Putrajaya )”.
Serina added that the water deal with Singapore expires in 2061 and that looking ahead to this, it was important for Malaysia and Johor to get impartial in treating its own waters.  ,
” The demand for water in Johor may increase especially with expenditures related to the exclusive economic zone expected to bring people to stay and remain based in Johor. Perhaps Johor is now at a stage of development that enables it to process its own water”, she said.  ,
Earlier this year, Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong witnessed the exchange of an agreement on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone ( JS-SEZ ) at the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders ‘ Retreat in Putrajaya.
The JS-SEZ is to be jointly run by Malaysia and Singapore with both countries setting sights on the creation of 20, 000 skilled jobs in the first five years.  ,
DATA CENTRES ‘ EXPANSION MUST BE MANAGED: EXPERTS ,  ,
Even as the five-year plan to develop the reservoirs and treatment plants is expected to supercharge water supply in Johor once they are completed, analysts CNA spoke to stressed that the state government must be careful in managing the expansion of the data centre industry.
This as the industry is energy-intensive and requires a copious amount and consistent supply of water for cooling systems.  ,
Speaking at an event in July 2024, then-Johor Bahru city council mayor Mohd Noorazam Osman stressed that the current focus on data centres is “understandable” but that the “real issue” in Johor is water and power supply.  ,
” As a local authority, I believe attracting investments is important, but it should not come at the expense of the people’s needs”, he had said.  ,
Johor is on its way to becoming a major data centre hub for Southeast Asia. According to data centre intelligence website DC Byte, the southern state’s data centre capacity has grown from just 10 megawatts ( MW) in 2021 to 1, 500MW in 2024.  ,