He said he had received many telephone calls about the disruption, not just from householders, but also from businesses who claimed they were suffering losses “by the millions”.
The disruption has affected more than 400,000 consumers in Penang, and more than 200,000 in Kedah, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said earlier today.
He called on SPAN to step in. “We want an investigation to be carried out,” he told reporters when visiting the Lahar Tiang water treatment plant today.
Santiago told FMT: “Yes, we will definitely be investigating this matter. I’m going there on Thursday morning, first to Kedah and then to Penang, to see for myself exactly what transpired.”
Yesterday, the Penang water supply corporation (PBA) said the major treatment plant at Sungai Dua had been unable to draw water from the Muda river when the river level dropped by half to 1m instead of the normal 2m.
Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor later said a sensor failure at a river barrage caused a floodgate to open, letting the river water flow out to sea. The river is the main source of raw water for Penang.
Santiago said an investigation by the drainage and irrigation department was under way, as all rivers fall under its purview. “We will talk to them about this matter,” he said.
Appropriate action would be taken should there be any negligence or maintenance problems, but added “it’s a bit too early to say now because we don’t know what the situation is.”
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