PENANG,: The Penang State Government is seeking intervention from the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA) to kick-off inter-state talks regarding the proposed Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme (SPRWTS).
Penang Chief Minister Y.A.B. Tuan Lim Guan Eng said that there was a “clear gap” between Perak’s intent and Penang’s need with regard to inter-state water cooperation.
“As a water-stressed state, Penang’s primary challenge is raw water sufficiency. In a letter dated on 16th December 2013, the Office of the State Secretary of Perak has stated that Perak is only interested in selling treated water to Penang, and not raw water,” he said.
“On 12th June 2014, Penang State Secretary Dato’ Farizan bin Darus replied in a letter to his Perak counterpart that Penang prefers to source raw water from Sungai Perak. What we really need is raw water. Buying treated water from Perak is likely to have a detrimental effect on Penang’s water tariffs,” he added.
Penang’s average water tariff for the first 35,000 liters of domestic consumption per month will be RM0.32 per 1,000 litres, based on a proposal that has been submitted for approval by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) on 30th April 2014. In comparison, Perak’s average tariff for this band of domestic consumption is RM0.73 per 1,000 liters.
Y.A.B. Lim, who also serves as Chairman of PBA Holdings Bhd (PBAHB), pointed out that Perak’s domestic tariff was 2.3 times higher than Penang’s for the first 35,000 litres per month. “This is an indication that it would be impractical for Penang to buy treated water from Perak as the cost is likely to be too high,” he said.
“I want to be clear that Penang is willing to talk to Perak at any time on the SPRWTS with regard to raw water, as suggested by KeTTHA. However, it is obvious that Penang and Perak are not on the same wavelength regarding inter-state water cooperation. As such, it is the responsibility of the Federal Ministry that holds the water portfolio to step in,” he added.
In a letter to Y.A.B. Lim dated 29th May 2014, KeTTHA Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili stated that his ministry appreciated and took note to the initiatives implemented by the Penang Chief Minister to ensure water sufficiency for the industries and people of Penang.
However, Datuk Seri Dr. Maximus said, the State Government of Penang needed to hold discussions and reach an agreement with the State Government of Perak before the SPRWTS could be implemented. The Minister pointed out that water resources were under the jurisdiction of state governments. If an agreement is reached between Penang and Perak, he added, KeTTHA would then prioritise further action on the SPRWTS.
In 2009, PBAHB’s wholly owned subsidiary, Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) commissioned a “Masterplan Study for Potable Water in Penang until 2050”. The results of the study showed that Sungai Muda, Penang’s primary raw water resource, would only be able to meet Penang’s needs until Year 2020.
As such, the Penang State Government and PBAPP proposed the SPRWTS to channel raw water from Sungai Perak to Penang. The SPRWTS allows Penang to tap a second raw water resource, which is relatively under-utilised, to avoid water rationing during prolonged dry seasons and ensure water sufficiency until 2050. The SPRWTS will also benefit Perak in sustaining continuous good water supply, particularly in the Kinta Valley.
In 2011, Penang and PBAPP migrated to the National Water Services Re-structuring Initiative (NWSRI) by signing agreements with the Federal Government. One of the key conditions for the migration was that the Federal Government agreed to be legally responsible for the implementation of raw water resource projects for the benefit of Penang.
In June 2012, KeTTHA reportedly approved the SPRWTS. In August 2012, the scheme was endorsed by SPAN. Since September 2013, Penang has been requesting for KeTTHA to chair coordination meetings between Penang and Perak.
Y.A.B. Lim reminded the Federal Government that it was time to fulfill its obligations. “We would like to take this opportunity to remind the Federal Government that it is time to fulfill its legal and moral obligations to the people, businesses and industries in Penang. This is in accordance to the provisions of agreements signed by Penang and PBAPP with the Federal Government to facilitate the National Water Services Re-structuring Initiative in 2011,” he said.
“It has been said that Selangor had to impose water rationing earlier this year due to the delay in the implementation of the Ulu Langat 2 project. In fact, the Federal Government was eager to implement the Ulu Langat 2 project even when it faced strong public opposition in Selangor.
“And yet, here in Penang, when we want the SPRWTS to avoid rationing in the future, the Federal Government seems to be unusually reluctant to move on this project,” he said.
“The Penang State Government and PBAPP are ready to invest in the requisite infrastructure in Penang to support the SPRWTS because we are concerned about water sufficiency after Year 2020. We are counting on the Federal Government to make good its promise to look after Penang’s water interests,” he said.
Contact: Syarifah Nasywa Syed Feisal Barakba
Corporate Communications Unit Tel: 04 2013 231 | Email : [email protected]
槟州供水机构于2014年7月3日在乔治市光大发表文告：
（槟城）槟州政府寻求能源、绿色工艺及水务部介入，以启动霹雳河生水转移计划的跨州会谈。
槟州首长林冠英指出，在跨州水源合作上，霹雳州的意图和槟州的需要有“明显差距”。
“槟城是一个缺乏水源的州属，确保生水充足是首要挑战。霹雳州秘书署 于2013年12月16日的信件中，已阐明霹雳只有兴趣卖净化水给槟城，而非生水。”
“槟州秘书拿督法力占在2014年6月12日回函，表明槟州希望取得霹雳河生水的意愿，我们需要的是生水，向霹雳买净化水可能对槟城水费带来不利的影响。”
槟城家庭用水每个月首3万5000公升用水，平均每千公升将收费32仙，这项建议书已在2014年4月30日提呈，等待国家水务管理理事会(SPAN)的批准。相比之下，同样单位算法霹雳家庭用水每千公升收费73仙。
也是槟城供水机构主席的林冠英指出，霹雳州每个月首3万5000公升的家用水费比槟城高出2.3倍。“这显示槟城向霹雳购买净化水是不切实际的，因为成本可能太高。”
“就如能源、绿色科技及水源部所建议的，我随时都愿意与霹雳商讨有关从霹雳输水到槟城的生水供应计划，但是在商讨前必须清楚。无论如何，槟城和霹雳在水源内部管理上显然地拥有不同的波长。因此，这是联邦应该负起的责任。”
从能源、绿色科技及水源部长拿督斯里麦西慕于2014年5月29日给槟州首席部长于的回函中说明，其部门重视槟州首席部长主动提出实施的这项计划，以确保槟州工业区和人们拥有充足的水源。
拿督斯里麦西慕透露，在从霹雳输水到槟城的生水供应计划实施前，槟州政府必须与霹雳州政府商讨，在达成共识后才能够落实。部长说，生水交由州政府管辖， 若霹雳和槟城签属合约，能源、绿色科技及水源部将会优先考虑从霹雳输水到槟城的生水供应计划，采取下一步行动。
2009年，槟州供水机构属下子公司槟州供水控股公司受委托规划“ 2050年槟州水供大蓝图”。调查结果显示，槟州主要的生水供应慕达何只足够供应槟州的需求直至2020年。
因此，槟州政府和槟州供水机构提呈从霹雳输水到槟城的生水供应计划。这项计划将允许槟州拥有第二生水供应，充足的水供将能够避免在旱季时进行配水计划，也保障水源供应充足直至2050年。从霹雳输水到槟城的生水供应计划也为霹雳持续维持良好供水计划，特别是霹州近打县。
2011年， 槟州政府及槟供水机构与联邦政府签署协议，转移至国家水供服务重组计划（NWSRI）之内。当中一项重要的条件，即联邦政府同意于法上负责槟州的生水计划，照顾槟州的水供利益。
根据报道，2012年6月能源、绿色工艺及水务部批准了从霹雳输送生水到槟城的计划。2012年8月，国家水务管理理事会亦表示支持。2013年9月其，槟州政府要求月能源、绿色工艺及水务部主持及协调槟州及霹雳之间的会议。
槟州首席部长林冠英提醒联邦政府，这正是履行后者义务的时候。“我们欲趁此机会提醒联邦政府，这正是他们履行对槟城人民、企业及厂商的法律与道德义务的时候。同时，这也是槟州政府与槟州供水机构在2011年跟联邦政府签署国家水供服务重组计划的条约一致。”他这么说。
“有此一说，雪州在今年初强制实行配水，乃因为乌鲁冷岳的两项计划延误所致。事实上，联邦政府非常渴望执行乌鲁冷岳的这两项计划，即便面对雪州人民的强烈反对。”
“虽然如此，当我们槟城想要落实从霹雳输送生水到槟城的计划，以避免未来出现配水的计划时，联邦政府却看起来异常勉强，似乎不太愿意执行这项计划。”他说。
“槟州政府及槟州水供机构已经准备好投资槟州的基设，以便可以支持从霹雳输送生水到槟城的计划，这是因为我们十分关注2020年以后槟州水供是否足够的问题。我们认为联邦政府也将实践其承诺，照顾槟州水供的利益。”他说。