Undersea pipeline replacement to Langkawi could cost billions, says exco
State executive councillor for Public Works, Natural Resources, Water Supply, Water Resources and Environment, Mohamad Yusuf @ Munir Zakaria, said that due to the prohibitive cost, only repair work is being carried out on the damaged sections.
'For now, we're allocating RM50 million to RM10 million for consultancy services and the remaining RM40 million for repair works,' he said during the Kedah legislative assembly sitting today.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Teh Swee Leong (PH–Kota Darul Aman), who had asked about the estimated cost of replacing the entire undersea pipeline to Langkawi.
Mohamad Yusuf added that since Syarikat Air Darul Aman (SADA) took over the Taliworks Langkawi concession on Nov 1, 2020, 42 new leaks have been repaired using underwater clamp methods, with the total cost for both new and existing leak inspections and repairs amounting to RM3.1 million.
He added that pipe inspection and repair works are currently carried out every two weeks, depending on weather and sea conditions.
Mohamad Yusuf said SADA will also undertake a dedicated undersea pipeline repair project to enhance the stability of treated water supply to Langkawi.
Now in its final procurement stage, it is scheduled to begin in August and expected to be completed by February next year.
He also revealed that the highest recorded non-revenue water loss stood at 55 percent, equivalent to 33 million litres per day, out of a total output of 60 million litres per day from the Sungai Baru Water Treatment Plant.
'Following repairs, the water loss rate has been reduced to 27 percent, or 16 million litres per day, ' he said.
The nearly 30-year-old 36-kilometre undersea pipeline transports treated water from the Sungai Baru plant in Perlis to Langkawi.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Hartamodal invests in Indian healthtech platform through RM70mil Dana Impian Fund
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian venture capital firm Hartamodal Sdn Bhd has made its first domestic investment through its RM70 million Dana Impian Fund, backing India-based healthtech platform Connect & Heal. It is a milestone for Hartamodal, the wholly-owned VC arm of Tradeview Capital Sdn Bhd, as it seeks to empower Malaysian entrepreneurs, both local and abroad, who demonstrate strong vision and execution capabilities. Hartamodal executive director Tan Cheng Wen said the investment represents its intention to support Malaysian founders with the ability to execute and help the country advance "We focus on backing founders with grit who can build and have the vision to tackle tough problems. "Dana Impian is all about giving opportunities to entrepreneurs and funding their dreams," he said in a statement today. Tan added that Connect & Heal's track record in India provided strong confidence in its potential for local replication. Dana Impian Fund, which targets earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation-positive or cash flow-positive companies, invests between RM500,000 and RM10 million across sectors. This is particularly in healthcare technology, renewable energy, fintech, agritech, industrial manufacturing and consumer retail. Founded in 2017, Connect & Heal has grown into India's leading managed care platform, serving over six million lives across 450 cities and completing more than one million clinical transactions annually. The platform was co-founded by Galveen Kaur, Elwinder Singh and Salveen Kaur, alongside chief executive officer Sanjay Vinayak. The team chose to first build the business in India's challenging market, aiming to prove its scalability before expanding back into Malaysia. Its end-to-end care management services cater to multinational corporations and insurers, supporting over 600 organisations, including more than 30 Global Fortune 500 organisations.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Khaled: Bee farming, oyster mushroom planting projects a boon for army families
GEORGE TOWN: A project under the Madani Economy initiative, implemented in military camps nationwide with an allocation of RM10 million, is proving successful in generating additional income for the families of military personnel. It also serves a dual purpose by supporting downstream industry development and food security efforts. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the readiness of the Malaysian Armed Forces does not solely depend on assets and troop training, but also took into account the wellbeing of their families, who are the backbone of the defence community's stability in the country. He cited for example how stingless bee farming and oyster mushroom cultivation projects by the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (2 RAMD) community at the Sungai Ara Camp were helping the families of army personnel productively spend their time — especially since some of the personnel are expected to be deployed on a mission to Lebanon next year. "When we talk about readiness, it is not just about assets, but also about the personnel and their families. We appreciate the contributions and sacrifices of the armed forces and understand that the wellbeing of their families is equally important. "We have been thinking about how to improve the wellbeing of these families. With strategic partners from the Ministry of Higher Education, we have identified certain knowledge areas that can be transferred through the Madani Economy initiative to families within the camps," he said during a working visit to the Sungai Ara Camp here today. Present were the Defence Ministry's secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, Army Chief General Tan Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan, Western Field Commander Lieutenant General Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman and Second Division Commander Major General Datuk Fazal Abdul Rahman. Khaled said the programme, which incorporates smart agriculture elements and technical training, also provided entrepreneurial education to members of the Armed Forces Family Welfare Association (BAKAT) 2 RAMD. The stingless bee honey project is already being marketed, while the oyster mushroom produce is currently in discussions to be marketed through the Malaysian Armed Forces Trading Corporation (Pernama). "Even the spent mushroom blocks can be used as organic fertiliser, making this project not only sustainable but also highly scalable due to the encouraging response we have received. "For the mushroom project, for instance, 20 participants have joined through the Mushroom Activity Centre, and this number is expected to grow if demand increases. If we have the space and facilities, we are ready to expand participation. "This is just the beginning to spark interest and prove that the project can bring real benefits and returns to participants," he added. He said that the stingless bee project in the camp used systematic beekeeping via "log hives" and biotechnology-based rearing techniques developed in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Meanwhile, the oyster mushroom farming employed enclosed mushroom houses with controlled temperature and humidity, ensuring high-quality and consistent yields, supported by Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP). Earlier, Khaled also reviewed operational readiness, troop welfare, and evaluated the progress of community development initiatives in the military. He also met with around 300 residents of the Sungai Ara Camp and handed over RM500 in welfare aid to 15 chronic patients from among military personnel and their families stationed in the area.
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia's wholesale, retail trade sales up 4.4pct to RM154.3bil in May: DOSM
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's wholesale and retail trade registered a total sales of RM154.3 billion in May 2025, reflecting a 4.4 per cent growth year-on-year (y-o-y), according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). In a statement today, its chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the growth was primarily supported by the performance of the retail and wholesale trade sub-sectors. "The retail trade sub-sector registered RM67.1 billion in sales, an increase of RM3.1 billion or 4.9 per cent y-o-y. "The wholesale trade sub-sector recorded RM68.2 billion, up RM3.1 billion or 4.7 per cent y-o-y, reflecting steady business activity across supply chains," he said. May's online retail sales showed an increase, with the index rising by 2.2 per cent y-o-y, he said. "However, after seasonal adjustment, the index recorded a month-on-month decline of negative 3.4 per cent," he said. In terms of volume index, he said wholesale and retail trade posted a higher y-o-y increase at 4.1 per cent, driven by the wholesale trade sub-sector, which rose by 5.8 per cent, followed by retail trade with a 3.7 per cent increase. Complementing the trade growth, Mohd Uzir said Malaysia's digital payment transactions recorded a strong y-o-y gain in May 2025. "E-money transactions surged by 70.2 per cent y-o-y to RM21.5 billion, reflecting heightened adoption of digital payments. "Real-time retail payments platform transactions amounted to RM289.4 billion, underscoring the growing demand for instantaneous payment solutions. "Meanwhile, financial process exchange transactions expanded by 21.1 per cent to RM39.2 billion, driven by increased online banking activity," he said. The chief statistician said credit card usage remained stable at RM18.7 billion, while debit card transactions registered an eight per cent growth to RM14.1 billion. "Collectively, these trends highlight the sustained expansion of digital payment channels, in line with evolving consumer preferences and the broader digitalisation of Malaysia's payment infrastructure," he added.
