GEORGETOWN, 27 Feb: Despite the Federal Government not approving the proposal for the Raw Water Supply Scheme from Sungai Perak to Penang to ensure that the water needs in the state is sufficient after 2026, the state government is continuing to apply for it to be reconsidered.
The Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, said that Penang’s success in facing this drought by not having any water rationing cannot be the grounds to not approve the application.
He said that the reason given by the Federal Government to reject the proposal is that the raw water in the state is sufficient until 2030.
According to him, the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, in a letter dated 18 September 2013, rejected the state government’s application dated 18 June 2013, which asked for the project to be expedited as stated in the water asset migration agreement signed by both parties in 2011.
According to him, Penang’s success in facing this drought by not having any water rationing may make it difficult for the application to implement the water supply scheme from Sungai Perak to be approved.
“Even is the application is rejected, the state government’s ability to address the drought should not be an excuse to not follow the conditions previously agreed upon.
“Therefore, the Penang state government will continue to request for this water supply scheme to continue to ensure the future of generations after 2026,” he said in a press conference at Komtar yesterday.
