Water to be sold to Penang only if Perak has surplus, says MB

Perak's Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad has expressed hope that the federal government will allocate funds to support a water transfer project from the Perak River to Bukit Merah Lake, with the aim of launching the initiative next year. The project seeks to address the needs of the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park and northern Perak's development, as well as alleviating water scarcity faced by farmers during the dry season.

Saarani emphasized that the decision to sell treated water to Penang would hinge on the availability of surplus water from the Perak River, stating, "First, we will work towards realising this project, and only if there is surplus water will we consider selling treated water to Penang." In July, Perak and Penang signed a conditional bulk water supply agreement, guaranteeing Penang a stable water supply for the next 40 years starting in 2032.

Under this agreement, Penang Water Supply Corporation will pay RM210 million annually for infrastructure development investments and a treated water charge of RM1.70 per cubic metre, subject to annual reviews. The 2027 budget is set to be presented on October 9.