KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya will expedite the Perak-Penang water transfer project which has been beset by delays, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
This is necessary to help develop industrial areas in Penang, such as the Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3 (BKIP 3), Bernama reported him saying in Penang today.
He acknowledged water supply issues that have plagued the northern state and affected businesses in industrial areas.
“The supply of water and energy which is concentrated (in) Sg Perak and the Kerian area, will be carried out by the federal government, therefore the abundant water supply from Kerian will ‘flow’ to Seberang Perai.
“So, we (the federal government) will speed up the Perak-Penang water deal,” he said during an earth-breaking ceremony in BKIP 3.
Anwar today also said other major infrastructure projects in Penang, such as its Light Rail Transit and expansion of the Penang International Airport, will be expedited to boost the state’s economy.
Penang and Perak have been negotiating on raw water supply for the former since 2009, but have failed to reach an agreement over pricing and because the Perak administration had cited the need to ensure supply for its own population.
Penang needs to diversify its water supply sources as its current main source, Sg Muda which flows from Kedah, is frequently at risk from floods and low levels during dry seasons.
However, a breakthrough was achieved in November last year when Perak agreed to sell treated water to Penang. Perak is to build a treatment plant for this purpose.
In January, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kan Yeow said the transfer of treated water from Penang will only be ready for implementation in six to eight years’ time, as there are still various issues, including on financing, to finalise.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, meanwhile, has said that the state is waiting for Putrajaya to allocate funds to build the treatment plant in the Kerian district in north Perak, bordering Penang.
Both state governments have established a joint committee to study all related costs before applying for funds from the federal government. – February 16, 2024