IPOH: The state hopes to include infrastructure works to complement the Perak Water Transfer Project in Budget 2027.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said infrastructure such as water tunnels and pumps, which are under the purview of the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, should be included to curb rising costs.
"The estimated cost for such infrastructure is between RM1.4bil and RM2bil.
"The longer the development, the pricier it can get," he said after launching a biogas renewable energy plant at the Lahat sanitary landfill here on Monday (Sept 28).
Saarani said the Northern Perak Water Supply Scheme water transfer project was also among the developments on the state's wishlist.
"We are in a phase of developing water transfer capabilities from Sungai Perak.
"The water supply can be distributed to the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (KIGIP) and to the agriculture industry.
"We hope that the project can be operational in 2030 or 2031," he said, adding that additional supplies could then be sold to Penang.
The initiative is designed to support local agriculture and industrial growth and also to supply treated water to Penang.
It is reported to be valued at about RM5bil, capable of providing about 1,500 million litres per day for local agricultural irrigation, domestic and industrial use.
The Perak-Penang water project is a strategic initiative aimed at facilitating the transfer of raw and treated water to meet growing demand in northern Peninsular Malaysia, particularly to support domestic and industrial needs in Penang.
Meanwhile, Saarani said the state also hopes there would be allocations to build new schools in Perak.
He said with several industrial parks, including KIGIP and Proton City, being developed in the state, there would be new residential areas and then the need for educational institutions.
