Who do we blame for Penang’s water woes?

 

It is mind-boggling that in 2024, Penang, the nation’s second largest metropolis, still faces appalling water problems. And, this in an era when the state government waxes lyrical about its development projects, rapid transportation schemes, and its ubiquitous and seemingly never-ending sea reclamation projects. Yet, a basic human necessity like water, falls by the wayside.

Can you imagine that 80% of Penangites faced water cuts for between two to four days? The abject inconvenience for citizens, and also the losses for business is unimaginable. The narrative offered by the state government is that they had to shut down the water supply, to replace two 1,200-millimetre valves at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant in Butterworth.

Fortunately, for the Penang state government, the general feeling was that the shutdown was necessary for future guaranteed supply. Penang folks realised that they had to bear with this troublesome situation to ensure that future disasters are averted.

Penangites are a resolute lot. We’re not “flaky” and we’ll manage any hardship, if we have to.

But the question here is, do we really have to endure hogwash like frequent water shortages? As a state that contributes 7.4% to the Malaysian economy, should we just accept this trope?

In Singapore, over the past five decades, while economic growth was phenomenal, their earliest strategic move was to solve their water supply problem. They did not put the cart before the horse. Water was a fundamental issue, and they made it their top priority.

As a nation considered to be one of the world’s most water-stressed countries, Singapore has made remarkable strides in water management by strategic moves that include creating water plants, making reservoirs, importing water, and desalinating water.

Now, can you imagine, this city state has 19 fresh water reservoirs, nine water treatment plants and 17 reservoirs for purified water? Their largest reservoir, Marina Bay, opened in 2008 and is constructed in an estuary closed off with a dam to keep out salt water.

Back home in Penang, the state government is still sabre-rattling with their arch-nemesis, the Kedah state government about Sungai Muda that supplies water to 80% of the state.

Here, our embattled chief minister of Penang, Chow Kon Yeow, who is dealing with his own “demons” in his political career, said that the shutdown could be considered a state “emergency situation.”

Chow extolled his own bravery in dealing with this problem to FMT by saying, “…I could have closed my eyes and left it to a future candidate for chief minister to resolve the problem, but as leader of the state government and chairman of the Penang Water Supply Company (PBAPP), it is necessary for me to do this to prevent more severe losses for the people.”

I commend Chow for taking the bull by the horns. But I have to ask why, since 2008 when his coalition came to power, have they not focused on solving this fundamental issue?

I pitied the PBAPP chief executive officer, K Pathmanathan, who was humiliatingly berated by a current state assemblyman and a former chief minister, in a video that went viral. Luckily, the CEO revealed that the state water company could not replace its 50-year-old control valves earlier, as it did not have sufficient funds. Apparently, the state government only just approved RM180 million for the replacement works. Go figure!

But it was made to sound as if he and the company were the reason for this shutdown, when, in fact, it was a state government problem with the lack of funds given to them. Perhaps the funds were diverted to more “important” projects like reclaiming more of the sea?

After 16 years in power, is this all we can expect from this state government?

Water disruptions should not be happening. Does Penang not even have sufficient storage of treated water for at least three days? Penangites deserve to know why treated water isn’t being stored for emergency use. Or is it just a case of negligent management of the water in our storage reservoirs?

So, the real question after this latest round of water cuts is simple. What are the Penang state government’s priorities in “developing” Penang island and the state, in general?

Will they continue with unbridled “developer-driven development?” Will they keep selling off large land tracts, legislate, and allow the incessant building of high-rise condos, without taking into consideration the stress to the already crumbling infrastructure? And, are they going to carry on reclaiming more of the sea, and insist on building artificial islands?

Or, will they finally prioritise the needs of the people?

Ultimately, will the Penang state government endeavour to provide us with uninterrupted clean water, better infrastructure, ease our transportation woes with the congestion due to development, institute flood mitigation projects, and focus on real local problems?

This state government is in its fourth term in power now, and it is slowly running out of excuses and scapegoats. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.