TELUK INTAN: The Cabinet paper on a water transfer project in Bukit Merah to address the critical water shortage problem in northern Perak will be brought to this week's Cabinet meeting.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the paper took into account requests and comments from the state government because the water supply is the state's right and knows the best course of action for the project.
"The implementation process also needs to give priority to contractors in the state. We have decided that the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry should agree to the collaboration of the Perak State Development Corporation (PKNPk) and Gamuda Bhd as implementers, taking into account the involvement of local small contractors," he said after the Customer Day programme at Teluk Intan Municipal Council Hall in Langkap here on Monday (Aug 11).
Saarani said the RM6.2bil water transfer project from Sungai Perak to Bukit Merah, which was implemented through a joint venture between PKNPk and Gamuda, would provide economic benefits to the people of the state.
According to Saarani, the project alignment was determined as a result of a series of workshops involving state government representatives to ensure its implementation meets the state's water needs.
He said the project would benefit the agricultural irrigation system in northern Perak and meet the water needs of the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (Kigip) in the Kerian district.
"I hope this project can be expedited because we want to solve the problem of agricultural irrigation in the north and help with Kigip's water needs.
"If there is a surplus (of water), then we will consider selling water to Penang," he said.
Last July, Gamuda Bhd through a joint venture with PKNPk was given a mandate by the state government to design, build and operate a water treatment and distribution facility located in Kerian.
The project will supply treated water to Kigip while the surplus will be channelled to Penang.
It will be implemented through privatisation, where the agreement is expected to be finalised within 90 days, with a minimum concession period of 40 years and is expected to begin operating by 2030. – Bernama
