No reason for Kedah to charge for water: Guan Eng

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has dismissed claims that the Kedah state government should start imposing raw water charges on Penang because the latter is drawing raw water from Kedah's rivers.

Guan Eng said in a statement today that the Penang Water Supply Authority (PBAPP) is drawing raw water from the Penang side of the Muda River, which does not cross into Kedah.

"Firstly, Kedah is not supplying raw water to Penang. The Muda River flows through Penang naturally. We draw water from the river ourselves using our own water supply infrastructure, at our own cost," he said.

"Secondly, the Muda River is a natural water resource and not a man-made project like the Johor-Malacca water transfer scheme. Why do we have to pay for drawing water from a natural resource that has been flowing through our state for centuries?" he asked.

He was responding to comments made by Deputy Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Mahdzir Khalid (right), who had recently said there was a strong case for the Kedah state government to start charging Penang for raw water.

Mahdzir had used the Johor-Malacca water transfer scheme, where Johor charges Malacca for drawing water from Johor, as an example.

But Guan Eng said that the Johor-Malacca example does not apply to Penang and Kedah.

"Penang drawing water from Sungai Muda inside Penang's borders is not like Johor pumping water from inside Johor's borders into Malacca," Guan Eng said.

Previously, the PAS-led Kedah state government between 2008 to 2013 had also mooted charging Penang for raw water but the suggestion was also shot down by Guan Eng.