GEORGE TOWN – Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has ordered the Penang government to find an alternative water source in the wake of an altercation with the current Kedah menteri besar over his demand for an annual raw water surcharge of RM50 million.
He said that the state is looking at Sg Prai’s potential as an alternative for raw water supply.
This comes after Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor made an unsavoury joke about diverting Sg Muda away from Penang if the state refuses to pay Kedah the RM50 million.
Chow said that the state has been directed to conduct a study, expected to be completed by the end of next year.
According to him, Sg Prai may not be able to supply water to the entire state but can still be considered as an alternative for some parts of the mainland.
“The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is the best-managed water authority in the country, so it is always looking towards a sustainable future,” Chow said after taking a tour of Sg Prai.
He said that the state’s future development will see its population requiring more treated water.
“Penang has an excess of treated water supply for now, but we do not have enough capacity for raw water supply. We need to look at the long-term aspect besides depending on Sg Muda,” he said.
Penang is also seeking permission from the federal government to be supplied with raw water from Sg Perak in neighbouring Perak.
The state is currently locked in a bitter exchange with Kedah over the supply of raw water from Sg Muda which flows from the Ulu Muda forest, a sensitive catchment area near Baling.
Penang has retorted that it is only extracting water from its own side of Sg Muda.
Under international water law, Penang has a right to the raw water supply from a river that flows into its territory.
Earlier, Chow visited Sg Prai together with Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar who spoke about the need to use rivers as places for water recreation. – The Vibes, December 13, 2020.
