THE Penang government has urged the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) to conduct an immediate post-mortem on last week’s water disruption incident and take necessary action to prevent a similar incident from recurring in the future.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has issued the directive to PBAPP to ensure a probe is carried out on the incident, which caused thousands of households in the state to go without a water supply after the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) had to be shut down due to the extreme turbidity of Sungai Muda.
It happened after the Baling flood last week.
“Even though the flood took place in Baling, Kedah, which is outside of Penang, we still need to make sure that our water ecosystem in the state is not affected.
“Some affected Penangites might be forgiving this time around, but we do not know what would happen in the future. We could not let this water disruption take place again as water is essential in our daily lives.
“The water disruption incident has taken a toll on many households in the state for the past few days as many of them could not have their usual daily routines.
“The state and PBAPP had previously requested the Federal Government to assist in the water issue, but nothing has come out of it.
“I hope PBAPP can still do its best to find other solutions to address the water issue, despite facing an uphill task.
“We can’t afford to let such an incident from taking place again,” said Chow, who is also the PBAPP chairman, during his speech before the signing of the Collective Agreement (CA) 2021-2023 between PBAPP and the PBAPP executive union, PBAPP staff union, and PBAPP workers’ union in Jen Hotel, George Town today.
Chow has been urging the Federal Government to approve the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme (SPRWTS) immediately as a backup water source for the state after the water supply interruption incident.
He also expressed his gratitude to the PBAPP staff members, who have been working tirelessly for the past week.
“They have done remarkably well to resolve the incident and restored the water supply to the affected households in the state, ” he said.
On the CA signed between PBAPP and PBAPP executive union effectively from Jan 1, 2022, until December 31, 2023, Chow lauded the move.
“It is the first penned agreement for PBAPP executive union after it was recognised on Nov 17, 2018,” he said.
For the CA between PBAPP and PBAPP staff and workers’ unions respectively, it was the eighth such agreement signed effectively from Jan 1, 2021, until Dec 31, 2023.
“I have been informed that the PBAPP management has held a series of discussions with the three unions before the demands were met,” said Chow, who was delighted that the PBAPP board of directors had approved a 5% increase in the employees’ salary.
Chow pointed out the increment would reduce the employees’ burden, especially during the current inflation.
“I hope the respective unions will continue their support towards the initiatives for the betterment of the staff,” he added.
Earlier, PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa was glad that the agreements have been agreed upon by the respective unions.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, PBAPP executive union president Naresh Pubalan, PBAPP staff union president Dasir Aznan and PBAPP workers’ union president Mohamad Adlin Ali.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Law Suun Ting