By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 5: Strong collaboration between federal and State agencies has paved the way to take a major step forward in dam safety management with the official launch of the Dam Safety Training Framework by the Malaysian National Committee on Large Dams (MYCOLD) during the 3rd International Conference on Dam Safety Management and Engineering (ICDSME2025) today.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, in a speech read by Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunications (Sarawak Energy and Petros) Dato Ibrahim Baki, said such partnerships demonstrate how federal and State stakeholders can collectively enhance technical capacity and nurture the next generation of dam engineers and researchers.
He added that it reflected close cooperation between the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) and the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunications Sarawak (MUT Sarawak); national utilities Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB); and academic institutions Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
To him, such cooperation demonstrates how federal and State stakeholders can collectively enhance technical capacity and build the next generation of dam engineers and researchers.
As Malaysia’s national representative to the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), MYCOLD plays a key role in connecting society, industry and government agencies in implementing national policies on dam safety and management.
Guided by its mission to promote collaboration, disseminate knowledge, and strengthen professional capacity, MYCOLD actively supports national efforts such as the Malaysia Dam Safety Management Guidelines (MyDAMS) by aligning them with international standards and fostering competency through programmes such as the Certified Dam Safety Inspector (CDSI).
Abang Johari said the theme of this year’s conference, ‘Dam Safety: Energy Transition and Water Transformation,’ aligns closely with Sarawak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which envisions transforming the State into a high-income, developed economy driven by economic prosperity, social inclusivity and environmental sustainability.
“Our pursuit of green power and enhanced water security are two of its core strategic thrusts. Therefore, for us, dam safety is not just an engineering requirement, it is a PCDS 2030 strategic imperative that underpins our entire sustainable development path,” read Ibrahim.
He also pointed out that the recent approval for the establishment of the Pusat Empangan Negara (National Dam Centre) under PETRA marks another milestone for Malaysia. “This centre will serve as a hub for coordinated dam safety management, data integration, and capacity building, strengthening our institutional readiness and technical excellence in managing critical water infrastructure,” he said.
Abang Johari commended the collaboration between MYCOLD and ICOLD for promoting knowledge-sharing and engineering excellence in dam management globally.
“Together, MYCOLD and ICOLD embody the shared vision that defines this conference, a vision where global best practices meet local commitment, and where engineering excellence serves as a foundation for sustainability, safety, and community resilience.
“Their collaboration reminds us that the future of dam safety is not built on concrete and steel alone, but on cooperation, trust, and shared responsibility among nations and people,” he said.
Also present at the event were Sarawak Energy Chief Executive Officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili, MYCOLD president Datuk Ir Mohamad Radzi Abdul Talib, ICOLD president Devendra Kumar Sharma, ICDSME2025 chairman Professor Datin Ir Dr Lariyah Mohd Sidek, and other distinguished guests. —DayakDaily
