By the 1980s, Malaysia had undergone a transition from a primary agricultural products-dependent economy structure to an industrialized nation, in a rapid and ultra large-scale. Those developments were specially clear in the national capital of Kuala Lumpur and the nearby areas. Unfortunately, this resulted in large scale water shortages due to the rapid increasing demand and deterioration of water quality.

Groundwater was considered as a possible alternative for water source to supplement this demand. However, uncontrolled use of ground water, were leading to serious environmental problems such as land subsidence and saltwater filtration to the aquifer. The integrated groundwater resources and environmental management plan was established in order to attain sustainable groundwater use; and to sustain a favorable groundwater quality in the basin. Simultaneously, a monitoring system and the geographic information system (GIS) as well as a human resources and institutional development plan were formulated for the implementation of the integrated management plan.