MP wants govt to discuss supplying water from Perak to Penang

MP wants govt to discuss supplying water from Perak to Penang


PARLIAMENT | A Penang MP today suggested that the state gets its water supply from neighbouring Perak.

RSN Rayer (Pakatan Harapan-Jelutong) told the Dewan Rakyat that Penang now depends on three reservoirs in the state and water channelled from Sungai Muda, which flowed from the neighbouring state Kedah.

However, he said, the heat wave had caused increased demand for water and the situation has worsened when a recent technical failure at the Muda Dam in Kedah affected supply to the island state.

“I am worried that such problems might occur again and again, thus I call the minister to form a Sungai Muda River Basin Authority as a committee that can ensure water supply to Penang will not be disrupted again.

“I also want to ask the prime minister to discuss with the Perak menteri besar for us (Penang) to take water supply from the state, given that the Perak government is a supporter of the current unity government.

“The minister (Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad) can discuss with the prime minister to hold an engagement session with the Perak government to discuss channelling water from Sungai Perak to water treatment plants that supply water to Penang,” he said.

Rayer said this when debating a motion about the heat wave and climate issues in the Dewan Rakyat.

Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad


In response to this, Nik Nazmi later told Parliament that the proposal is something that can be discussed.

“At the ministry level, for us, if there is a formal request from one state government to another, we can discuss this matter.”