IPOH: Penang's proposal to buy water from Perak should be given due consideration later on when the situation permits as it could generate revenue for the state, says Perak lawmaker.

       State Opposition leader Dr Abdul Aziz Bari (PH-Tebing Tinggi) said while he understood the decision to not supply water to Penang was made because of the current water situation, it should not be permanent.

       “The situation in Penang is said to be happening in Selangor as well. As fellow states of Malaysia, we ought to support each other.

       "While the decision is made based on the present, we believe that if the situation changes, (the sale) could help in generating income for the state,” he said in reply to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad during the question-and-answer session at the state assembly sitting here on Tuesday (March 29).

       Earlier, Saarani said the decision not to supply Penang with raw water was due to shortages within Perak.

       He added that based on research by several agencies, it was clear that Perak did not have enough raw water supply for its own people and industries.

       “While we sympathise with... Penang, we have to put our people first.

       “For example, if we are riding a plane and the oxygen masks drop, the flight attendant will ask us to wear the mask first before helping others. The situation is the same (here)," he said.

       In his reply to Maslin Sham Razman (BN-Bukit Chandan), Saarani said if Perak supplied water to Penang, it would affect livelihoods downstream of Sungai Perak.

       “Sungai Perak starts from Hulu Perak and ends at Bagan Datuk. Along the stream, we have many people relying on water for agriculture and other economic activities.

       “The Perak Water Board and state Irrigation and Drainage department told us that taking water supply from along the streamline will affect their water treatment plant and supply to the farmers,” he said.

       On March 24, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state was prepared to pay its neighbour between 20 and 30 sen per 1,000 litres of water as part of an effort to resolve its water shortage issues.

       Saarani and Chow had met earlier in the month met to discuss a possible water deal between the two states.