THERE has been no sympathy shown until now by the Environment and Water Ministry (Kasa) to expedite the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme (SPRWTS) project, says Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
According to Chow, he has personally brought up the issue regarding the project in a recent meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob along with other states’ chief ministers and mentris besar.
“And I believe it was recorded in the meeting’s minutes as well that the Penang government has requested that all studies on this project have to be completed as soon as possible.
“And Kasa is the responsible ministry that should deal with the matter raised in that meeting.
“This issue has also been raised many times at the ministerial level by the state government together with Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP).
“Unfortunately, until now, our numerous appeals have fallen on deaf ears.
“There were no sympathetic ears and they did not take our appeals seriously enough,” he replied when asked by a reporter for an update of the SPRWTS project after officiating a ‘Negalitres for Schools’ programme in Komtar today.
Chow reiterated that the project is crucial to ensure water security for Penang and also to upper Perak districts as the area faced similar issues as Penang.
“So, it needs to be implemented as soon as possible,” he said.
He added that both Penang and Kedah have done incredibly well by contributing about 80% of the total foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country in 2021.
“The Federal Government needs to look at these contributions from the northern region as a whole.
“We should not just look at the port, the road system, transportation system, railway lines, electricity supply but also the water supply which is equally important considering the contributions of Penang to the national gross domestic product (GDP).
“The northern region may be affected and unable to contribute much to the country’s economy in the future if the water supply to the region is stressed.
“This is not only about Penang. It also involves the northern region. It is important for Kasa to play its role by expediting this project,” he said.
Chow added that as a country that is rich in water sources, it will be a huge embarrassment and a laughing stock if one of the states has to rely on desalination methods to ensure water supply security.
“We take a look at our neighbouring country Singapore. They have five desalination plants but that is because their country has no water source. Hence, it is logical for them to resort to desalination.
“However, we have many water sources but do not receive the help we need from the Federal Government when it involves the water supply security,” Chow added.
Meanwhile, PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said the SPRWTS project has been delayed twice already.
“And this might be the third time after Perak, in its latest move, has decided against selling water to Penang under the SPRWTS project.
“Thus, PBAPP has come out with a contingency plan to counter the delay of the SPRWTS project.
“Among the contingency plan is to use desalination to meet future needs beyond 2030.
“And the commissioning of desalination plants in Penang will be implemented in phases from 2030,” he said.
Jaseni said PBAPP was also implementing the Raw Water Contingency Plan 2030 (RWCP 2030) projects to ensure water supply security for Penang.
On the water tariff issue, Jaseni said PBAPP would submit the water tariff review proposal to the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) by the end of this month.
“That is the deadline given by SPAN as the regulator.
“Normally, they will take about three months to process the proposal.
“Bear in mind also, PBAPP is not the only Malaysian water operator which is compelled to submit a water tariff review proposal to SPAN.
“Every state water operator needs to do the same as well every three years,” he said.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Chan Kok Kuan