Kelantan’s water capacity request far exceeds its needs: Nik Nazmi

Minister comments on state’s bid for RM8 bil to build treatment plants, reservoirs

PORT KLANG – Kelantan has asked for an RM8-billion allocation to meet a water demand capacity several times more than it actually requires, said Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

The natural resources, environment, and climate change minister said the state government’s request for a water capacity of almost 2,000 million ℓ per day (mlpd) is above the state’s current need for about 500mlpd.

“As such, we need to review what is needed. At the same time, what is needed should be proportional to the construction of water treatment plants to overcome the problem of non-revenue water (NRW).

“Due to NRW, even if we build more water treatment plants, there will still be leakage of water which will not reach consumers,” he told the media when asked to comment on Kelantan’s request for more funds in order to build five water treatment plants and reservoirs.

He was speaking after a briefing on the cooperation between Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd and Menteri Besar Inc with the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei at Mangrove Point here today.

At the same time, Nik Nazmi said his ministry remains committed to finding the best solution – including any key projects that are required – for Sabah and Kelantan’s water woes.

“Both state governments have communicated their requests on what is required. Meanwhile, the federal government has a legal framework that needs to be followed, either at the federal level under the National Water Services Commission and at the Sabah level under the state government.

“But the prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) emphasised that we have a responsibility as the central government to help Sabah as well,” he said.

– Bernama, June 13, 2023