The federal government is channelling more than RM800 million into major water supply projects across Penang to shore up the state’s water security, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) announced.
Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer Datuk K Pathmanathan confirmed that five projects, totalling an estimated RM837.5 million, are either under way or in the pipeline. They span new infrastructure construction and raw water source studies.
Among the flagship initiatives is a new barrage on Sungai Muda in Rantau Panjang, Seberang Perai Utara, valued at RM175 million. Expected to be completed in 2027, the structure will replace the ageing 1973 barrage, blocking seawater intrusion into the upper reaches of the river and boosting raw water intake efficiency.
The final phase of the Mengkuang Dam Expansion Plan (MDEP), worth RM214 million, is slated for completion in 2028. It includes the Lahar Yooi Raw Water Pump House with a capacity of 440 million litres per day (MLD) and a 400-MLD two-way flow pipeline to the Enlarged Mengkuang Dam (EMD).
Once complete, the EMD’s maximum discharge capacity during dry seasons or emergencies will rise from 600 MLD to 1,000 MLD, strengthening its role as a backup water source for Sungai Muda.
A third project centres on Sungai Kerian in Seberang Perai Selatan, involving the proposed expansion of Bukit Panchor Dam and a riverside water storage scheme (TAPS) estimated at RM419 million. Implementation timelines will be set once a feasibility study wraps up this year.
Upgrading works at the Titi Kerawang and Teluk Awak water intakes in Teluk Bahang, costing RM26.5 million, are expected to be finished by 2029. The works include a new pipeline to Teluk Bahang Dam to accelerate reservoir replenishment during the rainy season.
A comprehensive RM3 million study of raw water sources will also be conducted to guide future water supply development in the state, Pathmanathan said.
He added that these projects complement the Water Contingency Plan 2030 (WCP 2030), valued at RM2.1 billion, and the Perak-Penang interstate water supply project currently in planning stages. PBAPP expressed appreciation for the federal government’s continued commitment to strengthening Penang’s water infrastructure, noting the state faces mounting pressure from limited water resources alongside high socio-economic development potential.
Source: The Edge Malaysia / Bernama
