GEORGE TOWN: The state governments of Penang and Perak have agreed to refer the issue of obtaining raw water supply from Sungai Perak under the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme (SPRWTS) to the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) for resolution, says Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He said the Penang government's meeting with the Perak government on March 1 had agreed to refer the matter to KASA, which was currently finalising a study on water resources in Sungai Perak.

"Generally, I have informed the outcome of discussions with the Perak State Government at the Penang State Executive Council Meeting yesterday (March 2) and decided that the related issue will be referred to KASA so that the ministry can carry out their responsibilities on supply of raw water to states that are experiencing water shortages," he said in a statement here today.

He said in the meeting between the two state governments, Penang had once again reiterated its request to the Perak State Government to explore the potential of Sungai Perak as a long-term supply for raw water.

"However, the Menteri Besar and relevant agencies of the Perak State Government have responded that Perak, especially in the north, also faces a shortage of raw water supply, especially for use in various sectors such as industry, commercial, agriculture and residential.

"The Perak Menteri Besar in the meantime also concluded that the request from the Penang State Government was dependent on the adequacy of water supply from Sungai Perak before any consideration can be made," he said.

Chow said the Penang State Government took note of the argument made by the Perak State Government, and at the same time, the argument proved that the SPRWTS project was very much needed not only by Penang but also Perak, especially in the northern part of the state.

However, he said while waiting for the final decision on the SPRWTS project - which had been delayed for 11 years - and to ensure the state's water supply remained adequate, the Penang State Government, through the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) had drawn up a contingency plan called the 'Penang Water Supply Initiative 2050' (PWSI 2050).

The SPRWTS project was proposed by the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) to utilise Penang's second water source in Sungai Perak to meet future water supply needs for Penang and northern Perak until 2025.

In 2019, the Penang State Government and PBAPP had proposed to purchase raw water from Sungai Perak but then Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu wanted to sell treated water instead.

The Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources at the time considered both proposals by the state government to determine the best option that would offer mutual benefit, including the third option which was a 'hybrid' that combined the transfer of raw and treated water to Penang and Perak water supply infrastructure.

-- BERNAMA