Guan Eng Can’t Resist Politicising Kedah Water Supply

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water ... Lim Guan Eng came along. When most people mix two parts hydrogen with one part oxygen, they get water. When the Opposition try, they seem only to get disaster.

Before GE13, it was the improbably poor water supply in Kelantan and Kedah and the constant bickering between Selangor's State Government and the local water concessionaire, Syabas.

Oddly, the Opposition's other state somehow got away largely unscathed – that is apart from the running war between the then-PAS government in Kedah and DAP in Penang over the provision of raw water supplies.

Kedah's former Water Supply, Water Resources and Energy Committee chairman Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi explained that Kedah had spent millions in maintaining and conserving water catchment areas, ensuring that raw water supplied to Penang was clean and unpolluted.

As a consequence, the thinking in Kedah was that Penang should contribute something towards the costs. At the time, Lim Guan Eng was happy to bury his head in the sand, quipping that the suggestion must have been nothing more than a clerical error (something that he is presumably very familiar with since December).

"I believe this confusion arose from the officers in Kedah and I will leave it to the Kedah state government to sort it out," he said, washing his hands of the matter.

Even when PAS continued to harry him in the lead up to GE13, Lim Guan Eng was remarkably tight lipped – presumably trying not to damage Pakatan's reputation as a tight-knit coalition for the electorate.

Since May 5 however, the story has been altogether different.

Barisan Nasional, who swept to victory in Kedah, have also suggested the idea to DAP in Penang – something that has provoked outrage from George Town.

Kedah BN's proposal to charge Penang for raw water is "completely unreasonable" and akin to "asking money for nothing", Lim claimed last week, disputing Kedah's claim.

Kedah Mentri Besar, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said he, unlike some, did not wish to politicise the issue and said he would continue to negotiate with the DAP-led state. However he cited evidence he claims says Penang acknowledged the true boundaries of the Sungai Muda.

"A few months ago, the Penang Water Authority wrote to the Kedah government to ensure logging activities did not negatively impact their water supply. This is recognition from the state that the water catchment area is in Kedah," Mukhriz noted.

Kedah Gerakan Youth Tan Keng Liang was swift to call Lim to task over his hot air – steam if you will.

"The present Barisan Nasional-led Kedah government should not be made a scapegoat as it is only implementing the previous state government's plan," he said citing the RM640 million claim from PAS.

Tan, expecting a deadlock discussion, said that he would try to see the water plan tabled in Parliament. That is assuming of course that Lim doesn't boycott it.