GEORGE TOWN – Chow Kon Yeow has called on Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to apologise to Penangites and the state for allegedly making a misinformed remark over the alleged faulty barrage gate in Sg Muda which had caused a 24-hour water cut in both states.
The Penang chief minister rebuked the Kedah menteri besar to check his facts before shooting his mouth off.
Sanusi reportedly said that Penang should fix the faulty Sg Muda barrage gate, indirectly blaming the state for the recent water cut which had disrupted the lives of up to 600,000 residents in southern Kedah and several areas in Penang.
“If the Kedah menteri besar had made such a remark, he should have checked his facts first.
“He should apologise to the people because he made a nasty and uncalled (for) remark.
“If Sanusi did not make such a remark, he needs to contact the media organisation who reported on it to make the necessary clarification,” said Chow after attending a Penang Development Corp Aidilfitri open house here.
Based on the assessment from Penang Water Authority Holdings – the holding firm for the state’s water supplier Penang Water Supply Corp (PBAPP) – the barrage was located in Kedah’s part of Sg Muda.
It was also evident that the Sg Muda water basin division under the Drainage and Irrigation Department had issued a letter to the Kedah Water Resources Board to notify it that the sudden drawdown of Sg Muda was based on an unforeseen technical issue.
“Such a letter was not dispatched to any authority in Penang,” Chow reminded Sanusi.
He added that the automatic operation of the barrage doorways at Sg Muda was handled by the Kedah authority, and not PBAPP.
Chow also urged the National Water Services Commission headed by Charles Santiago to investigate the matter and offered full cooperation from the Penang side.
Close to 600,000 consumers in Penang and southern Kedah suffered a water cut which began on Sunday evening until early yesterday due to the technical default.
It caused Sg Muda’s water level at the intake stations in Sg Petani and Lahar Tiang in Kepala Batas to deplete to dangerous levels after a barrage door malfunction caused a drawdown of water into the Malacca Strait. – The Vibes, May 17, 2023
