ALOR SETAR, June 17 – Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang (photo) has suggested the issue on the sale of raw water from Kedah to Penang to be resolved by Parliament to avoid problems that could affect relations between the two states.
He said the matter could be tabled in Parliament by the Bagan and Padang Terap members of parliament, Lim Guan Eng and Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, respectively, to resolve the matter fast.
“Bring the issue to Parliament and let Parliament resolves it because in the august House, there are elected representatives we have there are elected representatives from the opposition pact and also the government to together discuss and resolve the matter.
“If Parliament says can sell, we sell, if it is a no, we have to abide by it. This way, we can resolve the matter,” he told reporters here today.
Prior to this, Deputy Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said it was time to discuss the issue on the charge for the supply of raw water from Sungai Muda in Kedah to Penang.
However, according to Tan, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had objected to the sale of raw water by Kedah to the island.
“Guan Eng is against it because he said nobody had claimed for payment from Penang for raw water,” he said, adding that this was despite the Budget 2013 tabled by then Kedah Menteri Besar Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak stating that the state government would sell raw water to Penang and discussion on the payment was in progress.
“Guan Eng is confusing the people of Penang by making the proposal to charge Penang for the supply of raw water is from the Barisan Nasional (BN)leadership, making the people to feel unhappy and angry at BN.
“We hope the Penang government will be honest in the matter and not confuse the people. Hence, the need to bring the matter to Parliament to be resolved,’ he added.
– BERNAMA
