Penang Cm Eager To See Kedah Govt In Court Over Water Feud

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Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow is looking forward to meeting the Kedah government in court over a feud about water supply between the two states.
This was after Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the Kedah government has appointed a panel of lawyers to pursue the state's demand for Penang to pay for water that it draws from Sungai Muda.
Sungai Muda originates from Kedah and flows along the Penang and Kedah border to the Malacca Straits.
"We have been waiting to see them in court. There is no use for us to just talk on the outside. It will not benefit anyone.
"In fact, we really want this matter to be brought to court. We also have our points," Chow was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.
Sanusi has been demanding payment from Penang, including threatening to turn the river muddy if the state didn't pay up.
Sanusi had also threatened legal action since January last year but had yet to follow through.
Chow previously said riparian rights meant Penang did not need to pay for drawing water from the Penang side of Sungai Muda.
In common law, riparian rights allow owners whose land adjoins a body of water to make reasonable use of them.
Likewise, it also disallows water to be transferred out upstream without considering people downstream.
The concept is recognised in the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution as an item under state jurisdiction. - Mkini

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