BERNAMA – Kedah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is leaving it to Allah the Almighty to bring rain to restore the water levels in three dams in Kedah.
“Wait for Allah the Almighty to bring rain. We humans can’t make rain ourselves,” said the chief minister.
“When the rain comes, the reservoirs will be full again. Don’t ask for a human solution to God’s work; there is none, and man cannot do it. Wait for God to send the rain,” he told reporters during the Breakfast with the Kedah Chief Minister programme in Renok on Sunday.
On Thursday, Bernama reported that the water level at Muda Dam was at eight per cent, Pedu Dam at 39.09 per cent, and Ahning Dam at 81.80 per cent, with an overall average of 43.68 per cent across the three dams.
When asked if the depletion of the dams’ water levels would affect agricultural activities, Muhammad Sanusi said the issue would not have an impact as water had been released from padi fields into Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) rivers and they (rivers) were full now.
Mohd Rizwadi faces Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, representing the Unity Government, in the Nenggiri by-election on August 17.
This by-election is being held as the seat was declared vacant by Kelantan state assembly speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah on June 19, after former incumbent Mohd Azizi Abu Naim ceased to be a member of Bersatu on June 13.
Meanwhile, Kedah UMNO chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid has urged the chief minister to be more proactive in managing water supply issues and the drop in the water levels of three dams in the state.
On Muhammad Sanusi’s statement that he is leaving it to Allah to bring rain to restore the water levels, Mahdzir said the chief minister should have prepared a contingency plan.
“If the drought reaches a critical level, what plan should the state government execute if the condition worsens? There must be short-term and long-term plans regarding the water supply,” he said.
Mahdzir said this while accompanying the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Nenggiri by-election, Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, to meet voters in Bertam Lama Sunday.
Mahdzir said Muhammad Sanusi should have provided more accurate statistics regarding the matter.
“There are two aspects to water supply: one involves agriculture, and the other involves domestic use. There must be methods and plans for both,” he added.
