SINTOK – Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor today stressed that the Penang government must continue paying the tariff for raw water from Sg Muda for the preservation of the water resource.
The tariff collection contributes to preserving water catchment areas in the state as best as possible to ensure there is sufficient supply not only for the people of Kedah, but also Perlis and Penang, he told reporters after presenting laptops and data plan packages to 50 Kedah students from the B40 target group at Universiti Utara Malaysia here.
He was commenting on a statement by Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd made in 2017 that has been circulating on social media since yesterday, in which the body presented eight reasons Penang should not have to pay for raw water.
Among the reasons given was that the Sungai Muda Water Scheme, which was officially opened by the former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein on November 9, 1973, did not mention the raw water charges.
Sanusi said although there is no “black and white” agreement on the tariff in 1973, Penang still has to pay the charges after the establishment of the Kedah State Water Resources Board, following the enactment of the Water Services Industry Act 2006.
When asked whether the state government would seek legal action on the matter, he said it has not yet reached that stage, and that negotiations will be held first. – Bernama, December 10, 2020
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