Synopsis of Lecture

It is said that civilization began and prospered when humans could control water; and that same civilization declined and vanished when that control is lost. Dams and other river flow barriers were built to harness and control water in the early days of civilisation in order to secure the benefits for human basic needs and comfort. Centuries later, more dams were built to cater for increasing population, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. But it is really in the past two centuries that many large-sized dams have been built to satisfy a wider range of development demands – hydropower, treated water supply, irrigation, flood control and environmental needs.

By the second half of the last century, society came to realise that dams can cause significant negative social and environmental impacts that could outweigh the original economic benefits. Opponents of dams protest vehemently worldwide against the development of more dams whilst proponents are convinced that they are a necessary feature to support growth and prosperity. It is these contradicting beliefs in mind that the public must be engaged to facilitate a better understanding of the views of both the proponents and the opponents of dam development before deciding on a long-term strategy. In the meantime, more effort may have to be made for water and energy conservation strategies and to realize the potential applications of low impact and non-structural solutions that complement existing dams and defer new dam development to as far into the future as possible.

This lecture aims to provoke a critical debate amongst engineers and the public to look at the longer term future of dams in water resources development that could possibly reduce the fundamental demand for services that dam provides. In other words, to try and answer the question “Why should a country rich in water, as Malaysia is, need to construct dams and even plan for more?”


C.V. of the Speaker

Dato’ Ir. Syed Muhammad Shahabudin has been in the water engineering field for close to 50 years most of which in private practice as a consulting engineer. He graduated as an engineer from Plymouth College of Technology, United Kingdom and is a Professional Engineer Malaysia, a Member of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, United Kingdom and a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager, United Kingdom.

After serving the Government of Malaysia for 12 years, the last appointment being the Chief Executive Engineer of the newly-formed Penang Water Authority (1973-74) on secondment from the Public Works Department, he became as partner in the consulting engineering firm of Binnie dan Rakan (BDR) Malaysia, a member of the international group of Binnie and Partners, United Kingdom with practices in South-East Asia and Hongkong specializing in water engineering. BDR was restructured in 1980 as Syed Muhammad, Hooi dan Binnie Sdn Bhd and Dato’ Ir. Syed Muhammad Shahabudin became the Chairman and Managing Director. The firm was completely taken over by Malaysians in 1995 and SMHB Sdn Bhd was formed. He assumed the duty as Executive Chairman.

Dato’ Ir. Syed Muhammad Shahabudin has made many contributions towards the field of engineering particularly to the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia as President (1985 – 1987), the Malaysian Water Association as President (1994 – 2007). As President of Malaysian Water Association, he led a team in initiating the transformation of water services industry, taking the matter up in 2004 to the Minister who obtained Government’s approval to eventually form National Water Services Commission (SPAN) three years later.

As Chairman of Malaysian Water Partnership (2007 – 2011), he was committed to the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and strongly believes that this is the best approach which can promote sustainability of water resources management in Malaysia.

He has been a board member of Selangor Water Management Board (LUAS) since its formation in 2000 and is currently a member of the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) since its formation in 2007. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, established under the Act of Parliament to pursue, encourage and enhance excellence in the field of science, engineering and technology. He is currently Chairman of Task Force on Water Demand Management.