Kedah to seek legal action over raw water charges

KUALA LUMPUR: The Kedah government will seek legal action to demand payment for the raw water from Sungai Muda that is being used by Penang, according to its Chief Minister, Sanusi Nor.

According to FMT, he said that the Penang government has requested that the matter be taken to court.

“They said if we want to claim the payment, we should take it to court. We will do so,” he said at a press conference during the State Government 4 (SG4) conference.

On August 26, the Penang government urged the Kedah government to seek payment for the raw water from Sungai Muda through the courts, rather than through the media or publicly.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow made this call in response to media reports that the Kedah government will continue to demand payment for raw water from Penang, which currently sources 84% of its water from Sungai Muda.

Kedah’s Executive Council member for Public Works, Natural Resources, Water Supply, Water Resources, and Environment, Mohamad Yusoff @ Munir Zakaria, was reported to have said that Penang has still not made payments to Kedah despite claims made since 2010.

Previously, Kedah issued a written demand to Penang for an annual raw water charge of RM50 million, following the fact that the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) sources its water from Sungai Ulu Muda, which originates in Kedah.

However, Chow was previously reported to have said that Penang’s use of water from the river, particularly in border areas, is in accordance with rights and international law.

He noted that the matter is governed by law and any dissatisfied party can take legal action.