NIBONG TEBAL: The Penang government is working on three projects to address the water supply problems in Mukim 5 Sungai Bakap, says an exco member.
The projects had been previously announced under the Water Contingency Plan 2030 by the Penang government and Penang Water Supply Corporation Sdn Bhd, said Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari.
"For the short term, we are planning a new five-kilometre pipeline to directly channel water to Mukim 5 from the newly upgraded Bukit Panchor water treatment plant. Medium- and long-term projects are also being arranged," he said when contacted today (June 29).
Earlier, the Mukim 5 water action committee chairman, at a press conference with residents of Taman Sungai Duri Indah, claimed that the Widuri and Welleslley projects did not function consistently and robustly.
Khairul Ahmad Fitri Suhaimi said the two mobile water treatment plants in Taman Sungai Duri Indah, and the Sungai Kerian treatment plant, were mired in uncertainty.
He said an immediate solution would be to obtain water from the Lubuk Buntar treatment plant in Kedah.
Zairil said the state government had initially purchased water from the plant, but the sale was discontinued by Syarikat Air Darul Aman Sdn Bhd in 2020.
"This was because they (Kedah) cited insufficient water supply for their own people. So it was not Penang but Kedah that stopped selling water from the Lubuk Buntar treatment plant to Penang," he said.
A resident in Taman Widuri here expressed hope that an immediate solution could be found as she could no longer bear the situation.
"What I and the other residents hope for is an immediate solution. Now it is election season (Sungai Bakap by-election), so whoever wins, please help us. That's our only hope," Siti Nor Baizura Mat Razai said.
