PENANG is seeking a meeting with Perak and the Federal government over the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme (SPRWTS) issue.
State Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari (PH-Tanjong Bungah) today told the State Legislative Assembly sitting that Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had written a letter to them as Penang views the SPRWTS as an important water source to accommodate the growing need for water in the state.
“Due to multiple efforts and failures in the past, the latest update is that the chief minister has written a letter to the ministry to call for a meeting between the three parties,” Zairil said in his reply to a supplementary question by Heng Lee Lee (PH – Berapit) at the State Assembly Building in Light Stree today.
While the SPRWTS issue remains unresolved, he added that the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has implemented the Raw Water Contingency Plan (RWCP) 2030.
This was introduced as an alternative route to mitigate the state’s raw water risks until 2030.
This contingency plan included the upgrading of the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plan (WTP) sedimentation tank, which has been completed and could yield 91 MLD (million litres/day).
In addition, a new water treatment module is now 15 per cent completed. It has the potential to yield 114 MLD.
Also, Phase One of the Mengkuang Dam WTP, which has the potential to yield 114 MLD, is expected to be completed in 2025 while Phase One of the Sungai Dua WTP, with a potential 114 MLD, is due for completion in 2028.
The new Sungai Prai Water Supply Scheme, which is a pre-treatment process with the potential to yield 136 MLD, is expected to be completed in 2028.
On another matter, when asked by Lee about infrastructure projects that were promised by the Federal Government but were yet to be fully implemented, Zairil said the water restructuring agreement that was signed between the Penang and Federal Governments in 2011 was one of them.
Zairil specifically highlighted a specific area under this agreement: the Mengkuang Dam Expansion Project (MDEP), which encompasses four phases.
“Phase One, which includes the expansion of the dam, was completed on 10 April 2017 and Phase 2A, which is the upgrading of the Mak Sulong pump house, was completed on 28 Sept in 2017.
“Meanwhile, ongoing efforts at Phase 2B, which involves the raw water supply from the Mak Sulong pump station to the Sungai Dua river, are currently ongoing and are expected to be completed in August this year.
“Lastly, the construction of the Lahar Yooi pump house under Phase 2C was postponed indefinitely.
“According to a letter from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources dated 3 Feb 2023, the reason given was that the water extracted from Sungai Dua has reached the maximum level.
“This project is very important as it will help the PBAPP to extract water from Sungai Dua during monsoon season, which is from April to May and September to November.
“Through this initiative, especially during the monsoon season, water that overflows into the sea can be stored in the Mengkuang Dam.
“Mengkuang Dam will then be able to channel up to 600 MLD of water into the Sungai Dua WTP during the dry season or in the event of a water crisis.
“We will continue to highlight the importance of this project and will ensure it materialises for the benefit of the state and its people,” Zairil said.
The Mengkuang Dam Expansion Project (MDEP) is slated to cost RM1.2 billion with the construction of the Lahar Yooi pump house alone at RM80 million.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhammad and Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis