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Better to get raw, not treated water from Perak, says Guan Eng
Lim Guan Eng says it is ‘unusual’ that a water treatment plant would be built there instead of Penang, the ‘ultimate consumer’.
It is crucial for a water treatment plant to be built in Penang for the sake of the state’s water security, said Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng. (Sada pic)
GEORGE TOWN: It is better to get raw than treated water from Perak as this would be much cheaper, Lim Guan Eng (PH-Air Putih) told the Penang state assembly today.
While debating the governor’s address, Lim said Penangites were worried about the price of treated water, which is expected to be RM1.50 per litre compared with RM0.32 per litre now.
He also said it was unusual that a water treatment plant would be placed in Perak, not in Penang which was the “ultimate consumer”.
He said this was not the case in other states like Melaka and Selangor, where they treat raw water from Johor and Pahang.
“If the water treatment plant is fully controlled by Perak, what is the guarantee that the water price will not be raised (at their) whim and fancy?” Lim asked in his debate.
“If the treatment plant is managed poorly or water prices cannot be increased, it might be closed down or affect the quality of water supplied (to Penang).
“Therefore, it is important that the rights and interests of the people and Penang be protected. At least, the treatment plant has to be placed in Penang and a reasonable water pricing structure needs to be negotiated with Perak.”
Responding to Lim, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the other states mentioned earlier received raw water from neighbouring states, whereas Penang obtained treated water from Perak.
“Plants can be (built) in the respective states, but we (Penang) are getting water that has been treated by Perak. So, what is the need to build another plant in Penang to treat (raw water)?”
Lim responded by saying it was crucial that the plant be built in Penang for the sake of the state’s water security.
Speaking to the press later, Chow said that more discussions would be held with the Perak government before the water supply matter was finalised.
He also said that Penang would only need to build its own plant should Perak decide to provide raw water instead of treated water.
On Nov 11, Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said the Perak government had agreed to sell Penang treated water following a unanimous agreement between the state secretaries on Nov 9.
Saarani said that a joint committee had been set up between the two state governments to study all costs before applying for an allocation with the natural resources, environment and climate change ministry to build a plant in north Perak’s Kerian district.
GEORGE TOWN: It is better to get raw than treated water from Perak as this would be much cheaper, Lim Guan Eng (PH-Air Putih) told the Penang state assembly today.
While debating the governor’s address, Lim said Penangites were worried about the price of treated water, which is expected to be RM1.50 per litre compared with RM0.32 per litre now.
He also said it was unusual that a water treatment plant would be placed in Perak, not in Penang which was the “ultimate consumer”.
He said this was not the case in other states like Melaka and Selangor, where they treat raw water from Johor and Pahang.
“If the water treatment plant is fully controlled by Perak, what is the guarantee that the water price will not be raised (at their) whim and fancy?” Lim asked in his debate.
“If the treatment plant is managed poorly or water prices cannot be increased, it might be closed down or affect the quality of water supplied (to Penang).
“Therefore, it is important that the rights and interests of the people and Penang be protected. At least, the treatment plant has to be placed in Penang and a reasonable water pricing structure needs to be negotiated with Perak.”
Responding to Lim, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the other states mentioned earlier received raw water from neighbouring states, whereas Penang obtained treated water from Perak.
“Plants can be (built) in the respective states, but we (Penang) are getting water that has been treated by Perak. So, what is the need to build another plant in Penang to treat (raw water)?”
Lim responded by saying it was crucial that the plant be built in Penang for the sake of the state’s water security.
Speaking to the press later, Chow said that more discussions would be held with the Perak government before the water supply matter was finalised.
He also said that Penang would only need to build its own plant should Perak decide to provide raw water instead of treated water.
On Nov 11, Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said the Perak government had agreed to sell Penang treated water following a unanimous agreement between the state secretaries on Nov 9.
Saarani said that a joint committee had been set up between the two state governments to study all costs before applying for an allocation with the natural resources, environment and climate change ministry to build a plant in north Perak’s Kerian district.
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