BANGI: The Kedah government has decided to go to court to seek compensation from Penang for its use of raw water from Sungai Muda.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said he had no choice but to take legal action since the Penang government had insisted on letting the courts decide.
“They insisted on this, not me. And so, we will do it,” he told a press conference in conjunction with the State Government 4 (SG4) Summit here yesterday.
On Aug 26, the Penang government told the Kedah administration to seek any payment for raw water charges from Sungai Muda through the courts rather than through the media.
Kedah has long demanded payment from Penang, which currently sources 84% of its water from Sungai Muda, which borders the two states.
It had demanded RM50mil per year for the raw water from Sungai Ulu Muda, which originates in Kedah.
However, Penang’s stand has been that its use of river water, particularly at the state border, was in accordance with international laws and rights.
The matter arose again recently when Kedah’s public works, natural resources, water supply, water resources, and environment committee chairman Mohamad Yusoff @ Munir Zakaria was reported as saying that Penang had yet to pay Kedah despite demands made since 2010.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow then told Kedah to take the matter to court.
In a separate press conference at the SG4 Summit, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said it would be up to Perikatan Nasional’s leadership to decide on contesting the next Sabah state election.
The Marang MP was responding to Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) leader Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee’s statement on Sunday telling Perikatan to stay out of the state election.
“That (decision) is up to us. We make the decision, not them,” he said.
SAPP is part of Perikatan at the federal level but with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the state coalition.
But Yong had urged its national coalition partners to refrain from contesting in the Sabah elections, saying it would be “interference” in state matters.
Asked about the number of seats Perikatan was eyeing in Sabah in the elections due by September next year, Abdul Hadi said no decision had been made.
“We are still discussing this. We will see what’s best for (the coalition),” he added.
On another matter, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin said the Opposition coalition was discussing with the Federal Government about allocations for its MPs.
He said Perikatan has yet to decide on whether or not it will accept the seven conditions imposed by Putrajaya. He did not reveal the seven conditions.
“First of all, the title of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) says ‘allocation for Opposition MPs’ instead of just for MPs. Regardless of which party they are from, they are MPs and should get their allocations.
“We (the Perikatan government in 2020 and 2021) gave the allocation to all, so why can’t they do the same? Apart from that, there are seven conditions imposed on us.
“Even 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues are included in this MOU.
“They also mentioned about us showing support to the government till the end of the current Parliamentary term and that we must declare our assets.
“Usually, those in administration are the ones who have to declare their assets, not MPs without any government positions,” he said, adding that Perikatan would respond before the next Parliament session begins next month, at the latest.
