SUNGAI PERAK RAW WATER DISTRIBUTION SCHEME (SPRWTS) REFER TO THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND WATER (KASA); PENANG IS READY WITH A CONTINGENCY PLAN
On 1 March 2022, I led a delegation from the Penang State Government to hold a discussion on the Sungai Perak Raw Water Distribution Scheme (SPRWTS) with the Menteri Besar of Perak at the office of the YAB Menteri Besar, Ipoh, Perak.
As a result of the discussions, the Penang State Government and the Perak State Government have agreed to refer the issue to the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) which is currently finalizing a study on water resources in the Perak River.
However, in anticipation of the final decision on the SPRWTS project (which has been delayed for 11 years) and to ensure the state’s water supply is always adequate, the Penang State Government through the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has drawn up a contingency plan, ‘Initiative Penang Water Supply 2050 ‘(PWSI 2050).
Generally, I have informed the outcome of discussions with the Perak State Government at the Penang State Government Council (MMK) Meeting yesterday, 2 March 2022, and decided that relevant issues will be referred to KASA so that the ministries can carry out their responsibilities on raw water supply to the state- states that are short of water resources.
Commenting on the meeting between the two parties, the Penang State Government once again reiterated its request to the Perak State Government to explore the potential of Sungai Perak as a long -term supply of raw water. However, the Menteri Besar and relevant agencies of the Perak State Government have responded that Perak, especially in the north, also faces a shortage of raw water supply, especially for use in various sectors such as industry, commercial, agriculture and residential.
The Menteri Besar of Perak in the meantime also concluded that the request from the Penang State Government was dependent on the adequacy of water supply from Sungai Perak before any consideration could be made. Thus, the Penang State Government took note of the argument given by the Perak State Government, and at the same time the argument proves that the SPRWTS project is also very much needed not only by Penang but also Perak, especially in the northern part of the state.
Based on these factors, the Penang State Government is trying to convince the Perak State Government that the SPRWTS project is necessary to be implemented in order to meet the needs and demands of these two states.
