Will Penang and Perak finally agree on water transfer after 12 years?

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Penang and Perak Continue Discussions on Water Transfer Scheme with New Approach

Penang and Perak will resume discussions on the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme (SPRWTS) with a significant development: Penang has agreed to consider taking treated water from Perak instead of raw water. This marks a renewed effort to resolve a project that has been stalled for 12 years, with a working-level meeting scheduled for tomorrow to explore this new basis for agreement. The Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, has expressed optimism that this discussion represents a positive step towards the potential implementation of the scheme.
Shift to Treated Water as a Basis for Agreement

The long-standing discussions surrounding the SPRWTS have taken a new turn as Penang has indicated a willingness to receive treated water from Perak. This represents a departure from previous proposals that focused on the transfer of raw water. While the specifics of this new arrangement, such as the volume, pricing, and duration of treated water supply, are not yet detailed, this shift in approach is seen as a crucial development by the federal minister overseeing the sector.
A Scheme Stalled for Over a Decade

The concept of the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme has been on the table for a considerable period. Penang identified Sungai Perak as a potential alternative raw water resource through a study conducted in 2009. Subsequently, the SPRWTS was formally introduced in 2011. Despite numerous meetings and discussions held between Penang and Perak over the ensuing years, a definitive agreement has consistently eluded both states, leading to the project's prolonged stalemate.
Federal Government Views New Discussions Positively

The Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, has acknowledged the significance of the upcoming working-level discussions between Penang and Perak. He described the resumption of talks, particularly with the new consideration of treated water, as a "positive start" for the project. This endorsement from the federal level suggests a supportive stance towards finding a resolution that could enable the long-delayed implementation of the SPRWTS.

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Will Penang and Perak finally agree on water transfer after 12 years?

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