Gerakan has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to proceed with the Mengkuang Dam expansion project in Penang costing RM1.2 billion under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, describing it as “heartening and magnanimous”.

Penang Gerakan Wanita chief Ng Siew Lai said the decision also nullified notions by some quarters that the federal government would be selective in approving projects in states run by the opposition.

Ng said the previous Barisan Nasional state government had fought hard for the project, as it was crucial as a strategic reserve for water supply to Penang island and its industry.

“We rejoice with Penangites that the federal government has decided to reinstate the project, based on the needs and interests of the people,” said Ng in a statement, adding that the state government should work closely with the federal government to ensure that the project was carried out smoothly.

Ng said former Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon had put up a strong case for the dam’s expansion and the project was originally approved under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, and some allocations had already been given out for land acquisition.

However, the Federal Government later declared that the dam expansion and three other projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan books were taken off: The other three projects are the RM1.bil Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR), the RM2bil monorail, and the RM40mil Penang Hill railway upgrade.

Ng said water supply in Penang was decreasing due to increasing demand from the growing population and a quick way to prevent a water crisis was to expand the dam’s capacity.

She also said the state needed a long-term plan to prevent a water crisis and public education on the need to cut down usage.

“We should treat water as a very important aspect of our life. There should be less wastage,” she said.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui said yesterday that the project would begin before the end of the year, once the tender and documentation processes were finalised.

“The capacity of the dam upon completion will be increased from the current 23 million cubic metres to 78 million cubic meters, to meet the increasing water demand in the state,” he said after visiting the dam in Bukit Mertajam.