Mukhriz willing to meet Guan Eng to settle water dispute

(BERNAMA) – Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir is ready to meet Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to discuss Kedah’s request to charge Penang for raw water supply from Sungai Muda.

He said this following a report that Lim had broached the idea of a meeting to discuss the matter.

Mukhriz said Lim had misconstrued the water charge request as Kedah looking for a win-win situation for both states.

“That’s what we want to present to Guan Eng, but even before we could convey this, he had already opposed it.  As we are neighbours, we can help each other,” he said after presenting aid to 280 Quran voluntary teachers and village midwives from the Jerlun constituency following a breaking of the fast in Kampung Pida Tiga, Tunjang last night.

Mukhriz said talks, which had been held by both states at the official level, should progress to the state government level.

Lim was adamant that Penang would not pay water charges, saying that water was God’s gift and that the state constitution stated that it did not have to pay a single sen to Kedah for raw water.

On the other hand, Kedah claimed that the charges were justified as Penang drew water from Kedah’s rivers and the money would be used to maintain a water catchment area at the Pedu dam.