Kedah to take Penang to court for compensation on raw water usage, says MB

BANGI: The Kedah government will seek compensation from Penang for raw water usage from its Sungai Muda through legal action, said its Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

He said given that the Penang government had insisted on bringing the matter to court, he had no choice but to do so.

“They said if we want to demand payment, we must go through the court. They insisted on this, not me. And so, we will do it,” he said during a press conference in conjunction with the State Government 4 (SG4) summit here on Monday (Sept 2).

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

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow made this call while commenting on a news report that the Kedah government would continue to demand payment for raw water usage from Penang, which currently sources 84% of its water from Sungai Muda.

Kedah’s Public Works, Natural Resources, Water Supply, Water Resources, and Environment Exco, Mohamad Yusoff @ Munir Zakaria, was reported as saying that Penang had yet to pay Kedah despite demands made since 2010.

Kedah previously submitted a written demand to Penang to charge RM50mil per year for raw water usage since the Penang Water Supply Corporation gets its water supply from Sungai Ulu Muda, which originates in Kedah.

However, Chow said that Penang’s use of river water, particularly in areas near the state border, was in accordance with international laws and rights.

He said the matter is governed by law, and those dissatisfied could take legal action.