Kedah wants fee payments, not contribution fees

ALOR SETAR, Dec 23 — Kedah is still seeking payment from the Penang government for fees on the raw water drawn from Sungai Muda to the island.

Kedah Mentri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said that the state government expects to charge 10 sen for each cubic meter of raw water consumed, but is prepared to negotiate the price with the state government of Penang.

In this respect, Mentri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the state government intends to charge 10 sen for each cubic meter of raw water consumed, but is prepared to negotiate the price with the state government of Penang.

“We do not want any other kind of contribution or compensation for the payment of fees,” he told reporters here today.

He said this in response to the comment by Minister of Environment and Water Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man that it would be nice if Penang, which benefited a great deal, could contribute financially to Kedah, which sacrificed water catchment areas to ensure that the water supplies of the states are guaranteed.

Muhammad Sanusi, meanwhile, said he could not provide any guarantee that buildings constructed illegally, including houses of worship, will not be demolished as it is against the law.

“Under the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133), building a structure on land belonging to other parties (without permission) is an offence,” he said.

A coalition of NGOs urged the Kedah Menteri Besar on Monday to give his assurance that the state government would avoid demolishing Hindu temples in the state and, if possible, will relocate them instead.

The Sri Raja Muniswarar Temple at Taman Bersatu, Kuala Kedah, was demolished by the Alor Setar City Council earlier this month as it was built on land belonging to the state government. Muneeswarar or Muneeswaran (முனீஸ்வரன்) is a Hindu god. ‘Muni’ means ‘saint’ and ‘iswara’ represents ‘Shiva’. He is considered as a form of Shiva. He is worshiped as a family deity in most Shaivite families.