THE water woes in Kelantan and Sabah will be resolved by the end of the year, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has pledged.
The Prime Minister said he would be inviting Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor within the fortnight to discuss the issue.
“The issue of funds, loans or bonds is our problem and it shouldn’t be borne by the people. I will find a way with their teams to resolve this.
“Even if it takes billions, we will find a way to solve it this year,” he pledged in his speech.
He said problems could not be solved in silos.
“This has nothing to do with the state elections or what not. It’s about the people,” he added.
Anwar said he hoped that full cooperation would be given by the state governments to the Federal Government in addressing these issues in order to ease the burden on the people.
“I do not want to hear complaints in Sandakan ... that the drinking water is mixed with salt water,” he said.
On Friday, Anwar said the water supply problem in Kelantan needed to be resolved regardless of political affiliation.
He said he had had a discussion with Ahmad and Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad on the matter.
Anwar said he had also briefed the Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V on the water issue.