N2 - River water pollution has been reported globally. In suggestion to adapt sustainability approach, this study carry out to tests the structural equation model between sustainable development and water resources management in the Malacca River basin (Malaysia). The model consists of six latent constructs (anthropogenic activities; law, regulation and policy; land and water ecosystem; Malacca River; river water pollution; sustainability) and twenty four items based on 400 questionnaires which were completed and returned by the local residents of Malacca state. Selected study area is within Malacca River basin. The result show the Malacca River is influenced by water law-regulation-policy (β = 0.546, p < 0.001), anthropogen-ic activities (β = 0.145, p < 0.001), river water pollution (β = 0.142, p < 0.001), land and water ecosystem (β = 0.105, p < 0.01), as well as sustainable approach (β = 0.127, p < 0.5). It was found that a sustainable approach and water law-regulation-policy have a direct influence on anthropogenic activities, river water pollution, as well as the land and water ecosystem. In conclusion, this study suggests developing an earlier approach of the model involved with water resources management and sustainable development. L1 - http://czasopisma.pan.pl/Content/113443/PDF-MASTER/Hua%20462.pdf L2 - http://czasopisma.pan.pl/Content/113443 PY - 2019 IS - No 42 EP - 90 KW - Malacca River basin KW - local residents KW - sustainable approach KW - water law-regulation-policy A1 - Hua, Ang Kean PB - Polish Academy of Sciences; Institute of Technology and Life Sciences - National Research Institute DA - 2019.07.29 T1 - Applied structural equation model in sustainable development of water resources management SP - 83 UR - http://czasopisma.pan.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/113443 T2 - Journal of Water and Land Development