Extra RM500m allocation to overcome Kelantan’s water woes, says PM Anwar

BACHOK, June 18 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced an additional allocation of RM500 million to resolve the water supply issue in Kelantan, which has been beset by lack of clean water.

He said the latest allocation was the result of discussions between the federal and Kelantan state governments earlier.

“We discused with the Kelantan government ways to overcome the problem of lack of clean water. I said we cannot meet a request that is too high.

“So, we start a project, but it should be jointly undertaken and managed according to the proper channels,” he said at the ‘Temu Anwar Kelantan’ programme at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) Bachok here, which was also attended by more than 5,000 students from institutions of higher learning in Kelantan.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had previously announced that the government was providing a RM1 billion allocation to Kelantan to overcome the state’s water supply problems beginning this year.

Meanwhile, a degree course student of UMK Kota Campus, Nur Syaqirah Abu Bakar, said the government’s efforts to overcome Kelantan’s water issue were most appropriate, pointing out that she and her friends frequently faced water supply problems in campus.

“Sometimes in a week there were five to six occasions of supply problems like water turning murky and slow in the campus.

“When these problems happened, I would turn up for class late and this affected my studies,” she said.

For trader Noor Kartini Awang, 35, the prime minister’s decision to give the extra allocation showed the federal government’s concern for all states regardless of their political inclinations and the like.

“It’s very good and I am delighted with the announcement because Kelantan people have been grappling with the water supply issue,” she said.

Cow breeder Abdullah Hamid, 63, hoped the federal government would continue with its efforts to help Kelantan so that the people could enjoy infrastructure facilities and development in line with the country’s progress. — Bernama