2015-05-14 16:18
GEORGE TOWN,May 14 (Bernama) -- A Penang state assemblyman has called on the Kedah Government to seek allocation from the federal government to protect water catchment areas in Ulu Muda, Kedah.
DAP Air Itam state assemblyman, Wong Hon Wai said the federal government should provide the allocation by utilising revenue from the Goods and Services Tax, rather than getting payment from Penang for that purpose.
"I support the protection of Greater Ulu Muda in Kedah forest lands as water catchments. It will benefit Kedah, Perlis and Penang. It will also support agricultural activities and water supply to the three states.
"The padi fields of Kedah produce rice to the entire country. Therefore, I feel the federal government should contribute to the protection of Greater Ulu Muda as water catchments.
"I believe the Perlis and Penang governments will support the proposal," he said when debating on the address of the Yang Di-pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here today.
Muhamad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) later stood up to say it was not wrong for the Kedah Government to ask for payment from Penang to maintain the sustainability of water supply.
"At one time, Penang paid Kedah to release water. We had asked Kedah to supply water and we paid. So if Kedah needs to recover maintenance cost, I think it is not wrong.
"The matter could be discussed between the chief minister (Lim Guan Eng) and Kedah menteri besar (Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir)," he said.
He also called on the state government to pay more serious attention to the falling water supply in Penang, apart from hoping to obtain water supply from another state.
"We are experiencing water problem. Almost all fish species will die due to pollution and poison used. We have been neglecting our job in protecting our water supply. Go visit Air Itam, one can see the water level is getting shallower. We have to be concerned besides hoping for water from another state," said Muhamad Farid.
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