Can’t wait for water woes to end

Source of life: An aerial view of Kerian river at the Penang-Kedah-Perak border. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: For years, some 30,000 consumer accounts in south Seberang Perai have been facing water problems as Penang’s primary water source is from Sungai Muda in the north along the Kedah border.

While the latest development of the Perak-Penang water deal is very much welcomed, many of them are hoping that the announcement could be translated into action soon.

South Seberang Prai Sub-district 5 Water Issue Action committee chairman Khairul Ahmad Fitri Suhaimi said there are 12 areas in Sungai Bakap that face water issues daily.

“In these areas, residents usually face water cuts or experience low water pressure from 6pm to midnight.

“For the record, the worst was 20 hours straight daily for three weeks in 2022.

“Another critical period was during festive seasons, where water disruption could go on for as long as 18 hours a day,” said Khairul Ahmad, who is a resident of Taman Seruling Emas in Sungai Bakap.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Perak had agreed to supply water to Penang via the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park into Seberang Perai.

He said Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizuddin Shah and Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saraani Mohamad had consented to provide water from Sungai Perak, which would flow through the industrial park in Kerian, then to Seberang Perai initially before flowing to areas such as Nibong Tebal and Sungai Bakap as well.

Khairul Ahmad hopes the project can be expedited.

He said just last year, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) had announced four short-term projects meant to address the water woes, with completion set in January this year.

“But everything has remained the same upon completion of these projects,” he said.

Last year, the PBAPP had said that four projects costing close to RM25mil were under way to benefit 18,242 account users.

In the initiative dubbed the south Seberang Prai Action Plan 2023, the four projects were meant to help restore water pressure and support future needs for development in targeted areas.

The projects were a Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) plant at the Bukit Panchor Water Treatment Plant (WTP) with a capacity of 10 million litres per day (MLD) costing RM18.6mil, a compact WTP in Sungai Kerian with a capacity of 2.4 MLD costing RM4mil, new suction tanks in the Pumping Station of Taman Widuri and Taman Wellesley costing RM1.2mil, as well as a portable WTP in Taman Sungai Duri Indah costing RM800,000.

Housewife Christine Teoh, 56, who lives in Taman Seruling Emas in Sungai Bakap, said she has been facing water issues for the past six years.

“The water pressure is always low in the morning – and after 6pm the supply will stop until midnight, sometimes until 2am,” she said.

“I am paying the same water rate like others, but the service has left much to be desired,” she said.

Another resident, who only wanted to be known as Vinoth, said the short-term projects did not bring much impact to resolve the water issues in the area.

“Our water problem is still there, especially in Taman Seruling Emas and other nearby areas.

“We are still facing the same old problem after six years,” he said.

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Penang chapter said the good news would augur well for the state’s economic and social development.

“With the treated water coming from Perak, it will be a good source for south Seberang Perai. Those living in the district do not need to depend on Sungai Muda,” said its chairman Datuk Seri Lee Teong Li.

Environmental conservation group Lestari Khazanah Alam (Lekas) chief Zikrullah Ismail said the proposal will be a catalyst in solving water disruption issues in the southern part of Penang mainland, especially in sub-district 5 in Sungai Bakap.

“We hope that the water issues in Sungai Bakap can be addressed promptly through short-term projects, instead of waiting for large-scale projects like the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park,” he said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Perak-Penang water deal will benefit existing development centres – those in the process and those to be established in the future.

“The project will not only benefit the three northern states in the peninsula, but will guarantee the needs of 32,993 user accounts in the affected south Seberang Perai district in Penang,” he said.