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BATU KAWAN: The Penang state government is ready to hold talks with its Kedah counterparts about a recent demand for payment of RM 50 million a year as compensation for drawing water from Sungai Muda.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government supports Kedah’s efforts to obtain compensation from the federal government, as raw water is under the control of the federal government.
“I think people do not want to see the two states involved in a verbal war through the media, but I hope that a discussion will take place … so I think it is better that we discuss the matter,” he said.
He said that Penang extracted raw water only from its own side of Sungai Muda, in accordance with international conventions.
Chow said he had discussed the issue with the Putrajaya environment and water minister in October, and the minister said the ministry’s important agenda was to ensure that all states had an adequate supply of raw water.
Last Wednesday, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Nor was reported to have sent several demand letters to the Penang state government insisting on an annual payment of RM 50 million for extracting raw water from Sungai Muda.
