KUALA LUMPUR: Any request for Penang to get its water supply from neighbouring Perak can be discussed between the two states, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (pic).
The Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister said that the proposal is something that can be discussed.
“At the ministry level, for us, if there is a formal request from one state government to another, we can discuss this matter between the two states,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (June 7).
“I am aware that there is an increased demand for water supply in Penang and it is an important matter for a developing state,” noted Nik Nazmi.
Earlier, RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) suggested that the state gets its water supply from neighbouring Perak.
He said Penang currently depends on three reservoirs in the state and water channelled from Sungai Muda, which flowed from the neighbouring state Kedah.
However, he said, the heat wave had caused increased demand for water and the situation has worsened when a recent technical failure at the Muda Dam in Kedah affected supply to the island state.
“I am worried that such problems might occur again, thus I call the minister to form a Sungai Muda River Basin Authority as a committee that can ensure water supply to Penang will not be disrupted again.
“I also want to ask the Prime Minister to discuss with the Perak Mentri Besar for us (Penang) to take water supply from the state, given that the Perak government is a supporter of the current unity government.
“The minister (Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad) can discuss with the Prime Minister to hold an engagement session with the Perak government to discuss channelling water from Sungai Perak to water treatment plants that supply water to Penang,” he said.
Rayer said this when debating the ministry’s statement on the situation of extreme heat phenomenon in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (June 7).
In response to this, Nik Nazmi said that the proposal is something that can be discussed.
“At the ministry level, for us, if there is a formal request from one state government to another, we can facilitate such discussion on this matter,” said the minister.
– The Star