I am very concerned with regards to the the federal government's move to hold back a RM1.1 billion federal allocation for expansion of the Mengkuang Dam, located in Permatang Pauh.

This will cause a critical water shortage for Penang's growing population in four years.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has warned that the dam’s expansion must be implemented by early next year and completed by 2012 to ensure Penang has sufficient raw water to meet the increasing water demand until 2024.

Water is a fundamental right. It is an inextricably related to the right to health as well as to an adequate standard of living. The human right to water entitles everyone to safe, acceptable, accessible and affordable water.

Governments have an obligation to protect, respect and fulfil the right to water. The government also has a duty to ensure sufficient water for its people in the future.

This denial of funds amounts to discrimination, as the federal government seems to punishing people in the state of Penang for electing a new state government.

It is ironic that the government is not willing to spend funds to support an efficient state-owned water utility yet in 2004, the federal government provided grants and loans amounting to RM2.9 billion to a private company Syabas to take over water supply in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya due to the high debts of the state corporatised body, Puas.

Meanwhile the Penang Water Supply Corporation is the most efficient in the country with one of the lowest tariffs for water yet and has recorded the highest profits among all the water providers in the country.

If the lack of funds impedes water provision in Penang and ultimately affects future access to water for Penangites, the prime minister must be held accountable for denying an essential right to his own people.