Sunday, April 23, 2023

K'tan Abim bemoans state govt’s failure to resolve water woes







K'tan Abim bemoans state govt’s failure to resolve water woes


The Kelantan Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) bemoaned the state government’s failure to provide an explanation and immediate solution to the water supply issues faced by the people.

Citing the people’s disappointment with the insufficient supply of treated water in Kelantan, especially during the Aidilfitri celebration, Kelantan Abim chief Mohd Syahiran Muhammad took a swipe at the state Public Works, Infrastructure, Transport and Utilities committee.

“Resolve this issue immediately because these problems have given a negative image to the state’s management of basic necessities,” he said in a statement.

Syahiran also took the state’s water authority, Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB), to task for allegedly closing the comment section on the agency’s official Facebook account.

“Many Kelantanese vented their frustrations on the insufficient supply of treated water on AKSB’s Facebook on April 21.

“It’s inappropriate for AKSB to close the comment section as its official social media accounts should be a platform for Kelantan folks to report such issues,” he added.


Kelantan Abim chief Mohd Syahiran Muhammad


Referring to several comments posted by netizens who have detailed the affected areas, Syahiran demanded AKSB explain the actions that will be taken to ensure such problems do not recur.

“In conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebration, the supply of treated water, which is a basic need, should be adequate.

“Not to mention the number of Kelantan folk who have returned home for the celebration is estimated to be over six million people.”

Dirty water supply has been an ongoing problem in PAS-led Kelantan, to the extent of locals coining the term “air karat” (rusty water) to lambast the state administration over the issue.

Among the reasons cited for the problem include the 40-year-old pipes used by AKSB, leading to non-revenue water and unsatisfactory quality water supply.

At the end of 2021, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the state government would build a large reservoir to solve the problem.

Previously, former environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man also talked about a riverside water reservoir project (Taps) costing RM1.3 billion to resolve the issue.

On March 15, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi promised that the issue can be resolved if his party wins the upcoming state elections.

The deputy prime minister stressed that the water issue in Kelantan must be resolved and “that is Umno’s and BN’s pledge to the state”.


1 comment:

  1. And yet, Kelantan voters continue to vote PAS who had previously said all water related issues can be solved in 30 to 40 years time.

    While one can empathise and sympathise with the simple rural folks, they do deserve the government they voted and be in this predicament.

    They will continue to suffer these water woes so long as they continue to vote PAS ...and frankly, they deserve it.

    ReplyDelete