While I understand there is a need for water supply to be cut off every now and then to enable road works or construction to take place for the betterment of mankind in this nation, I, for the world of me, fail to fathom how the Pihak Berkuasa Air Pulau Pinang (PBA) can simply cut the water supply off as and when they fancy with absolutely no notice at all to the citizens.

The website that PBA has is more often than not neglected. What's the point of having a website with the intention of notifying its users when it's not updated?

Might I also suggest that water supply cut-offs take place whilst most people are at work? Might I also suggest that cut-offs do not take place at 7am in the morning when most families are awake getting ready for work and schoolchildren are getting ready for school? While it's easy and not too much of a hassle for me to drive my grubby self to the sports centre at my work place for a shower before I step into the office, I'm sure many families would appreciate a little thought put in by PBA.

Some families have babies who need fresh boiling water to sterilise their feeding bottles before they can be fed. Some families have older folks who need fresh water for their medication. If this is not life-and-death, then, maybe, we'll simply have to wait till someone's life has been taken away before PBA would actually sit up and realise they have a problem on their hands.

Water supply is a basic human need. Countries all over the world have been supplying fresh water to its citizens for hundreds of years. It's not rocket science but it's essential enough to be a life- and-death situation.

If PBA simply cannot manage its resources properly by doing the simplest thing, notifying its users when water supply needs to be cut off, I believe it is the right time for them to step down and let this resource be managed and controlled by a foreign organisation who is experienced in this. If we have to pay more for water, so be it. At least we are actually getting the supply.

We keep on harping that our nation is such an advanced one. Perhaps this is also a good time to sit back and reflect on how advanced we truly are if a basic necessity such as water cannot be managed properly.