At a press conference here today, the Air Putih assemblyman shared a written reply from the state government stating that the Sungai Perak water transfer scheme would cost RM4.51 billion if it involves treated water, and RM4.24 billion for raw water.

Lim said this meant that the state would have to spend more money getting treated water from Perak, adding that this can only be done with federal government funding.

“We hope that with intervention from the federal government, we can ask that the water treatment plant be constructed in Penang as per the practice of other (consumer) states.

“We hope that the federal government can ensure that the water treatment plant is built in Penang to ensure the state’s water security is guaranteed,” he said.

On Tuesday, Lim told the state assembly the treatment plant should be built in Penang to avoid the possibility of deterioration in the quality of treated water due to the plant’s management and supervision by other parties.

He also said placing the plant in Penang would prevent water pricing from being raised at the whim and fancy of other parties.

However, chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said it was unnecessary for another water treatment plant to be built in the state as Penang would get treated water, not raw water from Perak.

On Nov 11, Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said the state government had agreed to sell Penang treated water following a unanimous agreement between the state secretaries on Nov 9.

Saarani said a joint committee had been set up between the two state governments to study all costs before applying for an allocation with the natural resources, environment and climate change ministry to build a plant in north Perak’s Kerian district.