MANY Kelantan folk have given up hope and no longer believe that the PAS-run state government can solve the water problems in the state.

Residents told The Malaysian Insight that they would rather spend their own money to get water than wait for the state government to fulfil its promise.

However, not all residents can afford to dig wells or install water pumps.

Those who cannot afford it have to fetch water at night or get supplies at nearby suraus and mosques, as do the residents of a village in Pasir Mas.

The villagers of Kubang Palas said the water has been cut off for two years.

Zakaria Derahman, 67, said he was very upset, especially because he has to go out to find water every day, despite has deteriorating physical condition.

“Water is available for only two or three days. Sometimes it comes out a little in the middle of the night but we can’t use too much.

“Then the water sometimes comes out black, or like the colour of milk, or tea. Sometimes there is mud in the water.

“I am very disappointed, especially when we want to use water for prayers but there is none. Therefore, we have to go out and get it,” he said.

The pensioner said he would often fetch water from a surau near his house or draw it from his neighbour’s well.

He said that he could not afford to buy his own water pump or dig tube wells to tap water from the ground because it costs too much.

The lack of fresh water is one of the main grievances people have against the PAS administration in Kelantan, especially as the party has controlled the east coast state for more than 30 years.

The thorny issue has bubbled to the surface again as the nation waits for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to dissolve Parliament for fresh elections.

On top of which, local Umno leaders are using water woes as a key campaign platform to attack PAS, with the Malay nationalist party hoping to take the state from the Islamists.

According to Umno, PAS leaders are also key decision makers in water supply, with party deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man serving as Minister for Environment and Water.

However, according to the minister, Kelantan needs 40 years and RM7.3 billion to address its water problems.

Meanwhile, resident Mustafa Awang Besar was disappointed because water problems continued to affect his food business.

He has to collect water in the morning because that is the only time it is available.

“As a trader, it is difficult. There is water at 2am or 3am only, but we have to be ready to just open the tap. There is not much water.

“Usually, I have to keep it in a container before (use) to do business,” Mustafa, 53, said.

Grocery store trader, Mohamed Izwani Ismail, 43, said he had to pay his water bill every month, despite the fact that he has no water.

“I pay RM5-RM6 each month because there is a water metre at my house, but there is never water when we turn on the tap,” he said.

He decided to spend his own money to make a well and install a water pump in his backyard, adding that it is useless to complain to the authorities because they don’t care.

Can’t save houses from fire

However, what is worse is Kota Baru residents in Berek 12 had to watch as their houses burn to the ground because the firefighters could not get enough water to put out the flames.

One of the victims, Che Nan Che Jaafar, said the incident happened less than a week before this year’s Hari Raya celebrations.

“Coincidentally, that morning I went out to send my children to work and then when I came back (I found out that the house) was on fire. Indeed, my house was all burnt down, then there were five more houses that were affected.

“Fortunately, my son’s house in front is not affected, so now I live with him,” said Che Nan, 64.

He further revealed that fire crews could only save two houses because they didn’t have enough water for all properties caught in the blaze.

“Indeed, there is always a water disruption here. If you use a water pump that is connected (to) the tank, then (the supply is stable).

“However, at the time of the incident that day, the water was suddenly cut off so only two houses were saved,” he said.

The state government has announced nine treatment plant projects to upgrade water supply in Kelantan which have been underway since 2021.

Among them are a pipe treatment and repair plant in Bachok worth about RM3 million as well as pipe replacement and upgrading of two plants amounting to RM2 million in Kota Baru.

However, the efficiency of the project was questioned by pressure group Save Kelantan, which saw a new plant in Kampung Telok that only produced 10 million litres a day at a cost of RM4.82 million.

At federal level, the Nenggiri Hydroelectric Dam mega project worth RM5 billion is also being planned to stabilise water supply in the state. – June 14, 2022.