Penang considers water rationing

“I was shocked to learn that the Perak state government will embark on water rationing for the first time ever in the wettest town in Peninsular Malaysia, which is Taiping next week.”

““This shows that Malaysia is facing the most severe drought in 15 years,” said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said in a press statement on Sunday.

Lim, who also chairs Penang Water Supply Corporation, said the state’s exco will decide in its meeting on April 2 to determine whether water rationing is necessary in the state.

Penang had previously said it had sufficient water supply even through the drought season.

“I had previously announced that there will be no water rationing in March.”

“However a review will be done by the exco for the month of April at our coming meeting on our existing stocks of water supplies and water reserves,” he said.

Last year, water consumption in Penang was the highest in Malaysia at 295 cubic liters per person per day.

For the first two months of the year, water consumption has risen by 5.4% to 311.

Lim also expressed disappointment that water consumption in the state continues to rise despite the numerous educational programmes and the imposition of water conservation surcharges as a penalty on those who waste water.

Perak State EXCO for Public Facilities, Infrastructure, Energy and Water Committee chairman Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharuddin said they had to resort to water rationing for the first time in Perak due to the dwindling water supply following the prolonged dry spell.