Malaysia Hit by Panic Buying Mineral Water Bottles as Waterless Dam

VIVA – A faulty water distribution system along Malaysia's Muda River sent one million people in the Penang and Kedahan regions into panic buying mineral water bottles. 

Although the water supply was restored in less than 24 hours, many food vendors said they were not selling, as they were unable to prepare food items without water the day before.

Without water from the Muda River, Penang's dam levels are struggling. The Ayer Itam Dam is 39.8 percent filled, the Teluk Bahang Dam is 46.2 percent, and even the larger Mengkuang Dam, which is usually more than 90 percent filled, is down to 88.2 percent.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow urged Penangites to conserve water and pointed out that in the case of the Ayer Itam Dam, there was only enough water for locals to last another 120 days.

"Penang's per capita daily water use soared to above 300 liters last year, the highest in the country. Tariffs must be raised to control water wastage," the minister stated.

On the system error that caused the Muda River dam gate to open, Penang Water Watch President Chan Ngai Weng said there should have been an automatic warning when the dam gate opened.

"Computers don't make mistakes. The authorities should check whether the warning was turned off or whether there was a virus in the program," he informed.

"There should also have been a general red alert sent to every level of authority in Penang and Kedah once the water level of Muda River dropped below a certain level," he added.

Then, many people blamed the Penang government and the Penang Water Supply Corporation for the mistake.

"It is not true that Penang has no plans for water security. There are many plans and the Penang authorities have been talking to their counterparts in Kedah amicably," he said.

For the Perak River Raw Water Transfer Scheme, he urged the Federal Government to help find a middle ground for the drought conditions in Perak and Penang.