IPOH: Perak is firm in its decision of not being able to supply water to Penang due to shortages in the state, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

       The Perak Mentri Besar said it was not that he was unsympathetic towards the request from Penang, but the state itself did not have enough raw water supply for its people and industries.

       He said the technical departments, mainly the Perak Water Board (LAP), Tenaga Nasional Bhd, and the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) were not agreeable to the matter due to their own valid reasons.

       “The four dams along Sg Perak - Temengor, Bersia, Kenering and Chenderoh - are where TNB generates electricity for the country, thus it is out of question to even take water from there.

       “Also LAP and DID said while there was a suggestion from Penang to take water from below the Chenderoh dam, a technical study showed that this could cause a drought in Perak Tengah and Hilir Perak, affecting fish breeders.

       “Also the Economic Planning Unit predicted that the population of Perak is expected to increase, and more industries setting up businesses in the state due to Penang and Selangor becoming congested,” he told reporters at the state level Police Day celebration held at the General Operations Force training centre in Ulu Kinta here on Friday (March 25).

       He was asked to comment on Deputy Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah’s statement on March 22, that the Federal Government was hoping that the issue of water supply in Penang, Kedah and Perak expected to face a shortage in 2050 could be resolved.

       Recently, Saarani had also met Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to discuss water transfer between the two states, and he had said that Perak was unable to supply water as the state itself was facing a shortage.

       "I am really sorry, but I would like to reiterate that our water supply is only sufficient for Perak, and we are unable to provide anywhere else,” he added.