Photo: Bernama
IPOH: There should be enough water supply in the country even during droughts, says the Prime Minister who has tasked the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry with looking at ways to address problems during the dry weather.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it makes no sense for Malaysia to have water supply issues when it receives ample rainfall all year long.Speaking of a friend in Jordan who runs an olive farm, Anwar said he believes there are technology and new methods available to prevent water shortages during droughts.
“It only rains twice a year there (Jordan) but he can still cultivate olives. He uses some methods to collect rainwater to be used for six months.
“During a drought (in Malaysia), there is no water, but we have floods. It does not make sense. Water is not being used properly,” he said in his speech when opening the World Water Day celebration at Stadium Indera Mulia here yesterday.
Anwar added that he has instructed the ministry to find the best measures to address the problems, including studying the methods adopted by other countries.
“Nik (Nazmi), I don’t want to hear that there is no water when there is dry weather next year because our country receives heavy rainfall,” he said at the event that was also attended by Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
At a press conference later, Anwar said the decision by the Perak government to not supply raw water to Penang is due to Perak giving priority to its own needs.“If there is any excess based on its projections of what it can supply for five to 10 years, Perak needs to do a study and make a decision,” he said, adding that any deals between the two states will be studied in detail.
Penang has been trying to get Perak to collaborate on the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme, which was proposed by the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), to supply water to Penang and northern Perak.
In March last year, Perak apologised to Penang for not being able to implement the scheme, saying that studies had shown that Perak did not have enough raw water.
However, Penang infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said a study by the previous Environment and Water Ministry on the scheme had found that Sungai Perak could meet the needs of Penang and northern Perak until 2050.
Penang, through PBAPP, has been trying to source water from Sungai Perak as an alternative raw water resource for the state since 2011.
Anwar had, earlier in the day, launched National Landscape Day at D.R. Seenivasagam Park and accepted a new hybrid orchid named after him.
The plant, which features yellow-orange flowers is named Aranda PMX-Anwar.
The yellow-orange colour symbolises joy, optimism and high spirits.
