Environment ministry committed to solving Kelantan's water woes, says Nik Nazmi

KUALA LUMPUR: The Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry will look at financial matters for the construction of water treatment plants and pipe replacement to solve water woes in Kelantan.

Its minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (pic), said it was a follow-up to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement, which openly expressed the federal government's commitment to solving the water issue.

"The ministry will also hold follow-up discussions with the Finance and Economy ministries to find the best solution together," he said in a statement on Wednesday (May 24).

That statement followed his meeting with Kelantan Public Works, Infrastructure, Transport and Utility Committee chairman Datuk Azami Mohd Nor and the top management of Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB) yesterday, to discuss the issue.

Also present at the meeting were the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change deputy secretary-general (Water and Sewerage) Dr Ching Thoo Kim; National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Faizal Abdul Rahman and ministry officials.

According to Nik Nazmi, the issues discussed during the meeting included the construction of the Machang reservoir or known as Takungan Air Pinggiran Sungai (TAPS) approved by the Federal Government under the Third Rolling Plan (RP3) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) and the proposed development of water supply infrastructure for TAPS which will be built.

"In addition, matters related to the implementation of the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction programme through the replacement of obsolete pipes and the write-off of rural water supply project loans, in line with the Kelantan State Water Service Industry Restructuring Agreement, were also discussed,” he said.

The discussion also involved the reserving of land for the sewerage plant to the Federal Lands Commissioner (PTP) and writing off the balance of the sewerage project loan and turning it into a grant, he added.

In Tuesday (May 23)'s meeting, he also reminded the state government that without efforts to improve AKSB's governance, the water problem will not be resolved.

On May 11, Nik Nazmi revealed that AKSB's governance method was the main factor in the water problem in Kelantan not being resolved apart from the issue of allocation, and the matter was acknowledged by the former Minister of Environment and Water Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.- Bernama