NIBONG TEBAL: Thousands of residents in Mukim 5 in the Seberang Prai Selatan (SPS) district here are hoping that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement that Perak has agreed to supply water to Penang will mark an end to their longstanding problem.
For the past six years, the residents in 12 residential areas and villages in Mukim 5 have had to live with constant water supply disruptions.
The areas are Taman Seruling Emas; Taman Seruling Emas Flats; Taman Sri Seruling; Jalan Sungai Duri in Taman Seruling Emas; Jalan Permatang Ara in Taman Seruling Emas; Wellesley; part of Perkampungan Sungai Baong; Perkampungan Sungai Duri; Taman Sungai Duri Perda; Taman Widuri; Kampung Permatang Ara and a part of Perkampungan Sungai Bakap.
However, the critical ones are Taman Seruling Emas; Taman Seruling Emas Flats; Taman Sri Seruling; Jalan Sungai Duri in Taman Seruling Emas; Jalan Permatang Ara in Taman Seruling Emas; Taman Widuri and Taman Sungai Widuri.
As early as 7am yesterday, residents in Taman Seruling Emas were left with dry taps yet again.
They said the situation was aggravated near major festivities.
Mukim 5 water issue action committee chairman Khairul Ahmad Fitri Suhaimi, 32, who has been at the forefront in fighting for the thousands of affected residents for the past three years, said there was finally hope for them.
He said Anwar's announcement, coupled with consent from Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah and buy-in from the Perak government under Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad could mean a long-term solution to their misery.
"This is the beginning to an end of our nightmare. I hope that my children do not have to live through what I am experiencing now.
"This water issue started when I just got married. Now, my eldest child is already 5 years old.
"We are grateful to the sultan of Perak and the prime minister for this. It means a lot to us," he said.
Khairul said the residents hoped that the project could be expedited.
"We hope that it will not take a long time to complete. We dread to imagine living with constant water supply disruptions.
"We also hope that short-term measures can be put in place to temporarily address our woes.
"While some short-term measures have already been put in place, we are still facing constant water supply disruptions."
On Sunday, Anwar said Sultan Nazrin and Saarani had agreed to provide water supply to Penang.
Announcing the good news at the closing of the northern region Madani Rakyat 2024 programme, Anwar said the water supply would flow through the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park to Seberang Prai.
He said that under the first phase, water supply would reach Seberang Prai, including Nibong Tebal and Sungai Bakap.
He said there had been concerns about water supply issues, especially in Nibong Tebal.
Meanwhile, Khairul said the water woes started in 2018.
He said that at that time, the water disruption occurred two hours daily.
He added that the situation worsened during the first Movement of Control Order.
"Since then, it has been a nightmare for us. Now, Taman Seruling Emas and Taman Widuri experience water supply disruption for between five and eight hours a day. During major festivities, it will last for at least 12 hours.
"The reasons given (for the disruption) were unsatisfactory, such as the hot spell and the affected areas being at the end of the pipeline.
"All these started happening due to vast development taking place surrounding the Nibong Tebal area," he said.
Christine Teoh, 56, when met at her home in Taman Seruling Emas here, showed the New Straits Times a room she converted in her house to store water containers for severe water supply disruption.
She said she faced water disruptions for the past three Chinese New Year celebrations.
"I am too embarrassed to even invite my friends over (due to the water supply disruption). Futhermore, instead of enjoying our reunion dinner at home, we eat outside due to the water issue.
"This year, we had (stable) water supply for about two days before the disruption," said Teoh, who has been residing in the housing area for the past 14 years.