Sg Perak water transfer scheme: Penang unhappy over further delays 

GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government has expressed its unhappiness over the third delay of the Sg Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme (SPRWTS) due to the Environment and Water Ministry (Kasa)’s ongoing study to assess the need for the project.

Speaking at a press conference in Komtar today, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that this issue has been raised by the state government together with Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBA) to both current and past Kasa ministers over the past three years on the need to expedite SPRWTS.

“They are not taking our appeal seriously enough.

“If SPRWTS does not happen, we have to look at other ways to get water, including desalination of the seawater that is around us.

“Desalination is the most expensive way to get water, and we will only implement it beyond 2030, earliest in 2033, if SPRWTS does not fall through.

“Though we have so much water in Malaysia, we would have to resort to the most expensive way to get water, and we will be a laughing stock to the world,” he said.

During a recent meeting at the beginning of March with Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Chow said they tried to impress upon them the need for this project not only for Penang but also for the water supply for the northern region of Perak.

As such, Chow called on for the project to be implemented as soon as possible as it involves two states and urged Kasa to play its role in the coordination and mediation.

However, Saarani had reportedly said that his state does not have enough water to be shared with Penang.

“We need to look at the bigger picture, and we need the Ulu Muda Basin Water Authority to look at the water issue as a whole for the northern region; for Perlis, Kedah, Langkawi and Penang.

Chow commented: “It is not just one state saying, ‘A particular river is my water source, and this is for my use alone’”. 

He added while there is plenty of water in the country, its management has not been efficient.

Given that both Kedah and Penang had contributed 80% of the foreign investments into the country last year, Chow hopes to get the message through that if the water issue is not resolved, the state will not be able to contribute significantly in the future.

Penang Water Supply Corporation CEO Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa, who was also present, said that despite the delay, Penang will continue to pursue SPRWTS with the Perak MB.

“We told them we want to start next year, that means we have to sign this year, so that the seven-year project will be complete in 2030.

“The CM has brought it up in Parliament, to the prime minister, the menteri besar, and now Kasa.

“As for us, our job is to develop contingency plans, and we have done so until 2050,” he said.

Jaseni also stressed that if the federal government is serious about its slogan “Keluarga Malaysia”, it is time to see the need for water as not a state issue but Malaysia’s issue. – The Vibes, March 22, 2022