Kedah Pakatan Harapan fully supports the state government's efforts in claiming raw water charges from Penang but suggests using more cordial means to resolve the issue.
State Harapan deputy chairperson Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi said the claim was appropriate as Kedah had sacrificed a large portion of its forest as a water catchment area.
"But there should be better negotiation, without sounding like a threat and it would be best to involve the federal government.
“Indeed any party that derives water supply from this state should pay the raw water charges to the Kedah State Water Resources Board (LSANK), so Penang should do the same,” he said at a press conference in Alor Setar today.
Phahrolrazi said the federal government should also provide compensation to the Kedah government that was conserving the state’s water resources not just for Penang, but also for Perlis.
"In fact, this (raw water charges) could also be claimed from Perlis," he added.
The Kedah government previously made a written demand to Penang, imposing a raw water charge of RM50 million per year as Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) receives water supply from the Ulu Muda River, which has its source in Kedah.
Meanwhile, Phahrolrazi said as the opposition leader in the Kedah State Legislative Assembly, he urged the state government to quickly resolve the water supply issue and the increase of over 40 percent of non-revenue water (NRW).
"The people are still facing water supply problems, whereby some places do not receive good or sufficient supply while the NRW rate is high, hence appropriate action must be taken,” added the Alor Mengkudu assemblyperson.
- Bernama
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