World Water Day 2013
18 May 2013
World Water Day 2013 was held at Taman Rekreasi Kuari Taman Botani Pulau Pinang (Just Beside Penang Botanic Gardens) on 18 May 2013. About 300 Participants took part in the Painting and Colouring Competition which began from 7.30am till 9.30am.
There were also 14 Companies/Government departments/NGOs taking part in the water exhibition. The Honourable Chief Minister of Penang YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng officiated in the event. Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Rashid, Penang EXCO Members YB Lim Hock Seng, YB Jagdeep Singh, YB Abdul Malek, PBAPP Sdn Bhd General Manager Ir Jaseni Maidinsa and WWP President Prof Dr Chan Ngai Weng. The event was witnessed by about 500 people (including the participants of the painting & colouring competition, booth exhibitors and their staff, WWP & PBAPP Sdn Bhd staff & others).
Prof Dr Chan Ngai Weng spoke about the United Nations 2013 World Water Day theme “Water Cooperation”. He spoke on the need for Water Cooperation at the global, national, state and local levels. He emphasized the need for states such as Kedah & Penang, Perak & Penang, Pahang & Selangor, and various levels of government to cooperate in water management to ensure water resources sustainability.
Ir Jaseni Maidinsa spoke on the role of PBAPP Sdn Bhd in ensuring high quality water services to Penang including 100% coverage 24 hours a day, lowest water tariffs & non-revenue water in the country, and PBAPP Sdn Bhd’s aim of ensuring water supply in the future. He appealed to all Penangites to use water wisely so that water supplies would not be over-stressed.
The Honourable Chief Minister YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng spoke about the role of water consumers in ensuring minimum wastage. He reminded Penangites not to waste water but to use it wisely. He lamented that Penangites were still the highest water users in the country with daily per capita water use of 294 litres. In comparison, the UN standard was 165 litres, Singapore 150 litres and Malaysia’s average 230 litres. He warned again, like previous years, on the possibility of tariff increase if Penangites continue to waste water. He stressed that Penang water was the cheapest in the country. It was even cheaper that Selangor which gave free water for the first 20 cubic metres to its domestic consumers because if we take into consideration the average water tariff, i.e. from 0 to 100 cubic metres. Penangites should not take water for granted simply because it is cheap now and freely available. He also stressed that water is needed for people to stay clean and the Penang State Government will ensure that water is supplied adequately both in terms of quantity and quality so that the state stays clean.
@Water Watch Penang, Organisers of the event