Strong words from Mukhriz, red carpet offer from Guan Eng

"Come to Penang and we can talk face to face. I will give him all the courtesy as the Kedah menteri besar."

This was the response from Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng (pic) to statements by the new Kedah menteri besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir on the need for both states to start talks on the water issue.

The ruling Barisan Nasional wrested back Kedah from PAS in the polls last month, putting the neighbouring state into the hands of one of Lim's biggest critics.

Mukhriz criticized Lim for rejecting the proposal by the Kedah state government to charge Penang for water supply from Sungai Muda.

He was quoted to have said that Lim was not acting gentlemanly when he rejected Kedah's plan to charge for water even before discussing it.

Lim, however, is laying out the red carpet for Mukhriz to come and meet him in Penang.

"Come as the menteri besar. There is no need to go through subordinates. And just because I don't agree with them charging us for water, it does not mean I don't want to meet him," said Lim.

He also said that he was willing to put aside and forgive Mukhriz for all the attacks against him since this was the latter's first time as menteri besar.

The DAP secretary-general added that the reason he did not agree to paying for raw water was because Penang never had to pay for it in the past.

He also said Kedah should not impose water charges on Penang because the Penang Water Supply Authority is drawing raw water from the Penang side of the Muda River at no cost to Kedah.

"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.  Since there is no cost on Kedah's side, why should there be any charges for us?" Lim questioned.

When asked about talk that the previous PAS-led Kedah state government had planned to impose the water charges, Lim said: "They were probably just talking among themselves because they never communicated anything to us about imposing a fee." - June 21, 2013.