The Kedah government is to write officially to the Penang government to
have discussions on the issue over the sale of raw water from Kedah.
Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir said the letter to be sent shortly was expected to launch the discussions on the matter between the two state governments.
Kedah
feels that Penang should pay for the raw water it draws from the Muda
River which originates in Kedah but also flows through Penang.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng
had reportedly stated that Kedah's proposal to charge Penang for the
raw water was "unreasonable" as Penang was taking the water from the
river in Penang without any expense to Kedah.
Mukhriz said the
previous PAS-led Kedah government had sent a similar letter to the
Penang government but it was only at the level of the state executive
councils and did not reach Lim.
"I will refer to the earlier letter and we will look into the matter. I do not wish to politicise this water issue.
"I
will make sure that the request for the sale of raw water to Penang is
done legally and will discuss it with the state secretary and legal
advisor," he told reporters after the handing over of refurbished houses
at Wisma Umno Jerlun on Friday.
Mukhriz said he was thankful to former Kedah local government, water supply and water and energy resource committee chairman Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi who supported his initiative to seek payment for the raw water.
Phahrolrazi
had stated in a newspaper report that the sale of raw water to Penang
was apolitical and based on the right and justification of the Kedah
government to obtain payment for nurturing the source of raw water.
Mukhriz
said the Kedah government also wanted to know what the Energy, Green
Technology and Water Ministry had to say in arriving at an amicable
solution in the matter.
"A Penang state executive councillor
representing the DAP had raised the matter in the state legislative
assembly and wanted it to be brought to the Dewan Rakyat for a reply
from the ministry. I am waiting for the reply from the ministry," he
said
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