THE Penang government has rejected the riparian rights made by Kedah Mentri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor that it is entitled to only 5% of the raw water supply from Sungai Muda.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state would not want to prolong the water issue with Kedah and reiterated that it would defend its rights in court to drawing water from Sungai Muda from its own border.
Muhammad Sanusi told a press conference yesterday that since the Sungai Muda catchment area owned by Penang is only five percent, the right to use water for Penang is only five percent.
He added that Penang should pay maintenance cost as Kedah owns up to 95 percent of the catchment area in the Ulu Muda area and only uses 44 percent of Sungai Muda water resources.
Penang, he said, uses up to 56 percent of the Sungai Muda water resources.
Chow, however, said the Kedah MB has already raised the issue many times, including wanting to take Penang to court.
“I immediately replied that we will see him in court. That is the stance the Penang government will take to defend its rights to draw water from Sungai Muda from our side of the border,” Chow said in response to a reporter’s question after launching the Dr Wu Lien-Teh Herb Garden at Penang Institute today.
“The Penang and Kedah border is at the middle of the Sungai Muda. So, the water drawn from the Penang side is in accordance with international laws. We’ve the right to take water from the river, especially from our own border, even though a river may originate from a state or a country. This is our riparian right.”
It was reported that Kedah had previously demanded that the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) settle the raw water supply issue with payment of RM50 million a year since 2010 but no payment has been made by the state so far.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Video by Chan Kok Kuan