SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan has offered to supply treated water to Melaka, which has been facing water crisis over the past few days.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the water level in the dams in the state was sufficient and able to meet the needs of the Negri Sembilan people, in addition to assisting the affected areas in Melaka.
"We are aware that the water problem faced in Melaka which is quite serious. When I went to Melaka two days ago, I was also informed that they need water.
"There is an agreement to make sure that we help each other and Melaka has been utilising our water to supply to the affected areas," he said at a media conference after launching the Sikamat state assembly Malaysia Day 2019 Carnival here today.
Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad (SAMB) had sought the help of water operators from neighbouring states to deal with the water supply crisis in Melaka.
This is due to the deterioration of water levels in the state’s dams, catchment ponds and the Melaka River due to the low rainfall. This in turn has reduced water pressure in some areas around the state.
Meanwhile, Aminuddin said the water supply assistance from Negri Sembilan to Melaka was implemented as agreed through a mutual understanding agreement (MoU) between the two states.
Under the MoU, the Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan (SAINS) will supply 12 million litres of additional treated water per day (mld) at RM1.40 per cubic meter.
"It is our responsibility to ensure that the people of Melaka receive their water supply and we hope that with the help from Negri Sembilan, it will at least ease their difficulty," he said.