In leaked video, Guan Eng takes water chief to task

 

Lim Guan Eng, the assemblyman for Air Putih, seen in a video clip calling for more water tankers to be deployed as Penangites face water cuts next week.

GEORGE TOWN: Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng has delivered a salvo against the state water company’s boss at a closed-door meeting ahead of a four-day water shutdown next week.

A leaked 2-minute video shows Lim, who is assemblyman for Air Putih, calling for more tankers to be placed on standby at worst-affected areas in the state, instead of the people being put under pressure to store water.

According to those who attended the event, Lim was upset when the water company’s chief executive officer, K Pathmanathan, said it was the public’s responsibility to store at least two days’ worth of water at all times.

In response, Lim said the demand was impossible given the limited space available in most Penang homes.

“It is our responsibility to give water. Don’t say it’s the people’s responsibility to keep water,” he said. “Don’t forget that we are the government. (Our) basic work is to give water to the rakyat,” he said, eliciting a round of applause from those present.

FMT has sought comment from Lim and the water company (PBAPP).

Lim’s comments were made at a closed-door event hosted by the company at Komtar on Wednesday.

He urged Pathmanathan to rent more water tankers, especially to areas such as Bayan Lepas which is at the end of the supply pipeline.

“If possible, make sure people are not waiting for water, but the water is waiting for people,” he said.

“If there are not enough tankers, rent more water tankers, get more containers out of state and spend money. Don’t talk about saving money. Lives are at stake, Mr CEO,” Lim was heard saying before the video abruptly ended.

An attendee who confirmed the authenticity of the video said Lim had asked for at least two water tankers to be placed at all 40 state constituencies, a task which he said would not cost millions to do.

Penangites suffered water supply disruption for four days last month after a major pipe burst under the Perai riverbed.

A four-day water shutdown has been planned for next week to fix a major valve at a water treatment plant. The shutdown affects some 590,000 users or 80% of the state’s population.

Recently, Penang Gerakan chief Oh Tong Keong said chief minister Chow Kon Yeow should resign as PBAPP chairman and its CEO should also leave given their purported inefficiency in handling the Dec 18 unexpected supply pipe rupture. - FMT