The Penang government wants the federal government to reconsider its proposal to implement the Raw Water Supply Scheme from Sungai Perak/Kerian to cope with the state's water needs after 2026.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Energy, Green Technology and Water minister Maximus Ongkili had rejected the proposal, which can guarantee Penang's water needs for the years after 2026.

Maximus rejected the proposal, Lim ( left ) said, on grounds that Penang has enough water.

"He said this on Sept 18 last year, when replying to my letter on the subject dated June 18, where I called on the government to hasten the project as promised in the Water Asset Migration Agreement signed between the federal government and Penang state," Lim said in a statement today.

"Penang's success in facing the drought season without water rationing will make it difficult for the government to approve our application for the Sungai Perak water scheme," Lim said.

"However, the fact that Penang can manage our water resources despite the drought season should not be used as an excuse not to comply with the agreement signed to ensure enough water supply for our future generations after 2026."

In the rejection letter to Lim, Maximus explains that the federal government had approved the RM1.4 billion Mengkuang Dam expansion project, which is part of the Penang Industrial Water Supply Restructuring Scheme and agreed to earlier by the two governments.

Water usage in Penang country’s highest

The project, to be completed in 2016, is under way. It will increase the existing raw water capacity for Penang by as much as 198 million litres a day and supply enough water to Penangites until 2016, Maximus noted.

In the letter that Lim released to the Penang government, Maximus ( right ) also suggested that Penang focuses on a comprehensive water demand management programme to ensure effective raw water usage in the state.

"The suggestion is based on Penang's water usage per capita, which is the highest in the country -  285 litres/capita/daily compared with the national average of  210 litres/capita/daily," Maximus said.

"If Penang manages to control its domestic per capita water usage to at least 250 litres/capita/daily for urban areas and  240 litres/capita/daily for rural areas, I am confident that the existing raw water supply will be sufficient until 2030."

Maximus said Penang's proposal to implement the Raw Water Supply Scheme from Sungai Perak/Kerian to supply enough water to Penang is "too early to be considered".

He also said that Penang needs to discuss the scheme with Perak to obtain that state’s approval to supply raw water to Penang as water is under the purview of state governments.

"If Perak agrees to supply raw water to Penang, the Ministry is prepared to re-acknowledge the proposal (for the raw water scheme) in the coming Malaysian Plan," Maximus said.