GEORGE TOWN – Penang should not be "ultra kiasu" about providing "consolation" payments to Kedah with regard to the Sg Muda raw water issue.
Penang PAS secretary Iszuree Ibrahim said the Pakatan Harapan-led state government should be open-minded and act in the spirit of neighbourliness.
“Why do you (Penang) want to be stubborn? Penang itself receives water resources and benefits from it.
"Penang should act in a spirit of neighbourliness and be tolerant, despite differences in opinion," he told The Vibes today.
Kedah had previously demanded that the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) settle its payment for raw water resources amounting to RM50 million a year after it took offence to criticism of the state's move to approve rare-earth mining.
PBAPP had previously urged the Kedah government to stop mining rare-earth minerals in Sik and Ulu Muda, Baling.
Iszuree said Penang is being unprofessional about the proposed payment for raw water resources from Sg Muda.
“When Pakatan Harapan (PH) ruled Kedah, the Penang government allegedly wanted to pay for raw water from Sg Muda.
"But when the Kedah’s government changed, Penang suddenly refused to pay. This is all just about politics,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kedah menteri besar's political secretary, Afnan Hamimi, said every year, Kedah sends a letter to hold talks on the payment for Sg Muda's raw water resources.
However, he said, the Penang government has never responded to any of the letters.
It is understood that the letter has been sent more than once "since the time of the PH menteri besar. But even then, they never responded to the letter”, Afnan said on Facebook.
Afnan, who is also Penang PAS Youth head, said what was surprising was that Penang reportedly wanted to pay the water charge in 2018, but changed its stand this year.
“Which one is it? Why do principles change? Do the principles change when the ruling party changes?”
On Tuesday, the Environment and Water Ministry had reportedly said it was ready to hold talks with Kedah and Penang to resolve the Sg Muda issue.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, had told the Dewan Rakyat that the Penang government could consider contributing to Kedah to reward the latter for its efforts to protect its water catchment areas.
Penang had recently said will not meet Kedah's demands for an annual payment of RM50 million for extracting water from Sg Muda, which flows through both states.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had cited international water laws to justify Penang's legal and protective right to extract water from the parts of Sg Muda that runs through the state.
Prior to that, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor had demanded that Penang settle its demand of RM50 million for extracting water from the river, which flows some 100km away from the Ulu Muda catchment area near Baling. – The Vibes, December 18, 2020
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