Atlas Copco and Global Peace Foundation Malaysia inaugurate major clean water and sanitation initiatives in Pahang

• Known as Water for All, this is Atlas Copco’s main community engagement initiative funded by voluntary employee donations that are matched with twice as much by the company
• Collaborative effort brings clean water and sanitation facilities to  indigenous communities and empowers them for a sustainable future

Atlas Copco Malaysia and Singapore, in collaboration with Global Peace Foundation Malaysia, held the inauguration of the Water for All projects in Kg. Sungai Gayung and Kg. Gantung Geriang on 14th April 2023. The event took place at Kg. Sungai Gayung in Pahang, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-built solar water pump source, with the presence of the heads of both villages. The ribbon-cutting ceremony included visits to the Tok Manja, Naza, and Sudin washrooms, as well as a site visit. Afterwards, a media briefing and interviews were held at the Mangala Resort in Kuantan. The guests of honour at the event were H.E. Ambassador Dr Joachim Bergström, Mr Horst Wasel, Vice President Holding, SEA & Oceania, and Mr Khalid Shaikh, General Manager – Compressor Technique for Atlas Copco Malaysia and Singapore. Dr Teh Su Thye, CEO of the Global Peace Foundation Malaysia, and his team were also present. 

Mr Horst Wasel, Vice President Holding, SEA & Oceania said, “Access to clean water is a basic human right, and it is heartening to see organisations like Global Peace Foundation and Atlas Copco Malaysia and Singapore come together to make it a reality for the people of Pahang. This Water for All project is a significant step towards ensuring that every person in the region has access to safe and clean drinking water, and it will go a long way in improving the health and well-being of the local communities. I am proud to be a part of  this inauguration ceremony and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the lives of the people of Pahang.”

The event included speeches by H.E. Ambassador Dr Joachim Bergström, Mr Horst Wasel, Mr Khalid Shaikh, Dr Teh Su Thye, and the Tok Batins from Kampung Gantung Geriang and Kampung Gayung. The event also provided an opportunity for attendees to engage with villagers and students who received laptops as part of the project.

Joachim Bergström, Ambassador of Sweden said, “As the Ambassador of Sweden, I am very happy and proud of the Swedish companies working here in Malaysia who are really at the forefront of the green shift and the sustainability movement. Access to water is a fundamental human right and is the Sustainable Development Goal no. six. With access to water, other benefits will follow: not only better lives and physical health but also in the Improvement of mental health, the right to dignity, and other basic human rights. I hope these initiatives will inspire more initiatives around Malaysia in other parts of the world – and bring forward aspirations and ambitions gathered under Water for All.”

Empowering communities with clean water: a step towards a healthier future

Clean water is a basic human right that is essential to health, hygiene, and overall well-being. However, communities in rural areas may not always have access to this right. According to a report by OHCHR, 92% of the Malaysian population has access to clean water, which means that there are still about 8% that do not. To put this into perspective, this amounts to about 2 million people having limited or no access to piped water. Access to clean water and sanitation facilities is particularly crucial for vulnerable groups, including women and girls. The lack of proper sanitation facilities can force them to use unsafe areas, which not only threatens their safety but also undermines their dignity. Providing access to clean water and sanitation facilities helps to protect the health of those living in rural areas and empower them to maintain their hygiene in privacy, reducing the risk of infections and other health issues.

The Water for All programme aims to provide sustainable solutions for water and sanitation, creating a positive impact on the health and well-being of communities worldwide. This project in Pahang is an example of how the programme is fulfilling its mission by providing clean water and sanitation facilities to those who need it most. Villages in the region lacked basic facilities such as proper bathrooms, piping, and washrooms, which put their health and safety at risk. However, rather than simply providing these facilities, the project focused on empowering the villagers by teaching them how to build and maintain the facilities themselves.

Mr Khalid Shaikh, General Manager – Compressor Technique for Atlas Copco Malaysia and Singapore said, “We are thrilled to see the impact of our project in empowering the villagers by providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge to build and maintain essential facilities such as toilets, washrooms, and solar water pumps. By taking this approach, we not only provided them with access to clean water but also ensured that they could sustain these facilities for years to come. At Atlas Copco Malaysia and Singapore, we believe that sustainable solutions require community empowerment, and we are committed to continuing our efforts to support initiatives that create a lasting positive impact in the communities where we operate.”

This project was a significant step towards ensuring that all members of the community had access to the basic necessities required for a healthy and dignified life. Atlas Copco Malaysia and Singapore are proud to be a part of this initiative and look forward to continuing their efforts to ensure that everyone has access to clean water and sanitation, regardless of their location or circumstances.

For more information, please visit their website: https://www.water4all.org/en 

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About Atlas Copco

Water changes lives.  

Through the dedicated and passionate work of volunteering employees at Atlas Copco and Epiroc, Water for All funds projects which empower people through access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. Since 1984, we have reached millions of people worldwide. 

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