ALOR STAR: Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor should have taken the dispute over raw water supply between Kedah and Penang to court much earlier in his tenure.

Kedah Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar said this would have been a more appropriate course of action rather than turning the issue into a political one.

"I welcome the menteri besar's and the state's intention to bring the raw water supply dispute between Kedah and Penang to court.

"This is what should have been done from the start of his tenure as menteri besar. It would have been far better than turning it into a political issue on social media, which ultimately made him appear like a village thug, failing to reflect the dignity of a menteri besar," he said when contacted today.

Mahfuz said Sanusi's actions in politicising the issue, along with various other matters, have tarnished Kedah's reputation and fueled racial tensions.

"By behaving like a village thug, Sanusi has damaged the image of the Sultan of Kedah, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, and the reputation of the state.

"When such issues are politicised, they become endless problems, and when they escalate, they turn into racial issues, straining relationships between states in Malaysia," he added.

Mahfuz said all parties must now respect the court's decision on the matter and stop politicising such issues.

"I support letting the courts decide whether the raw water supply charge to Penang is valid or not. Respect the court's decision - if Penang has to pay, then they have to pay," he added.

Last month, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that although the issue has been raised since 2010, the Penang government had never received any formal legal claims from Kedah regarding compensation for raw water supply.

Chow also said if the Kedah government was serious about its claims, they should pursue them through proper legal channels.

Yesterday, Sanusi said Kedah was preparing to sue the Penang government to seek compensation for the use of raw water.

He had said Penang's insistence on pursuing legal action left him with no choice but to take the matter to court.

In response, Chow said he is prepared to face his Kedah counterpart in court over this ongoing dispute.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/1100769/sanusi-should-have-taken-raw-water-dispute-court-much-earlier