Low water level seen at the Merdeka Bridge in Bumbung Lima, Kepala Batas, on May 15 due to a faulty sensor at one of the water gates in Sungai Muda. It has since been rectified. — Filepic
THE governments of Penang and Kedah should sit together and work out an amicable solution to water issues faced by the people.
Penang MCA vice-chairman Dr Tan Chuan Hong said it was not the time to blame each other but instead cooperate in dealing with the management and see to regular maintenance of the water systems.
“Both Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor should find ways to repair the faulty barrage gate as soon as possible,” he added.
Tan, who is Bagan MCA head, said both states should closely monitor their respective barrage gates and prevent any malfunction, to ensure people have access to undisrupted supply of water at all times.
“Penang must learn from the recent water cuts and should look into upgrading the water pipes transporting raw water from Mengkuang Dam to the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Station as soon as possible,” he said in a media statement.
“People are worried that water cuts will happen as soon as a warning is issued, with fear of the taps running dry.”
He pointed to water disruptions in Penang after flash floods in Baling, Kedah, in July 2022 made Sungai Muda too turbid for raw water to be drawn, followed by the recent one when Sungai Muda’s level dropped to as low as 50cm after one of the water gates in the river’s barrage opened automatically due to a faulty sensor, making it impossible to draw water until the gate was manually closed and the river’s level rose again.
“The issue boils down to delivery facilities, and water disruption will continually occur if the Mengkuang Dam’s raw water delivery to the Sungai Dua treatment plant is not improved.
“Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) should be more proactive in dealing with any water crisis, by formulating a more effective emergency response measure to prevent water cuts.
“The state government should supervise PBAPP and ensure it provides high-quality service at all times and put preventive measures in place rather than resort to ‘firefighting’ when a disaster occurs,” added Tan.
