‘Teluk Bahang dam not affected by quarry operations’
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has given an assurance that the quality and quantity of raw water at the Teluk Bahang dam are not in any way affected by the operations of a quarry in Teluk Bahang.
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said the quarry was located outside the Teluk Bahang water catchment areas.
He said there was no way any rainwater or water from the quarry could flow uphill into the Teluk Bahang dam.
He was responding to several reports about illegal quarrying activities in Teluk Bahang and that the quarry was very close to the Teluk Bahang dam.
The reports also claimed that “water level at the Teluk Bahang dam had been abnormally low” and that the quarrying activities might have affected the dam’s storage levels and water quality.
“PBAPP wants to clarify that the quarry is located outside the water catchment area of the Teluk Bahang dam.
“As such, its existence and alleged operations do not affect, threaten or jeopardise the Teluk Bahang dam’s effective capacity or raw water quality in any way.
“Also, the quarry is located about 50m downhill from the Teluk Bahang water catchment boundary.
“The laws of physics dictate that rainwater or any water from the quarry cannot naturally flow uphill into the Teluk Bahang dam,” he said yesterday.
Jaseni said the low reported effective capacity levels of the Teluk Bahang dam last year were not related to the quarry activities.
He added that the primary reason for this abnormal phenomenon was low rainfall in the 12-month period from Aug 1, 2019, to July 21 last year.
During this period, the total rainfall recorded in the Teluk Bahang dam’s water catchment area was 4,466mm or 30.3 per cent less than the average recorded rainfall of 6,411mm for the three-year corresponding period in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
He noted that the facts and figures regarding the low effective capacities of the dams on Penang island last year had been highlighted by PBAPP in more than 10 media releases last year and shared with the people of Penang via the resulting mass media reports throughout the year.
Jaseni also assured that the quality of the treated water supplied from Teluk Bahang dam was better than the parameters set by the Health Ministry in its Quality Assurance Programme.
“As such, PBAPP seeks the cooperation of our critics to kindly stop making baseless allegations and insinuations.
“The quarry activities have no impact to the water supply engineering operations, quantity and the quality of water supply from the Teluk Bahang dam.”
KUALA LUMPUR: While waiting for her convocation ceremony, one soon-to-be graduate strives to prove that all graduates should embrace entrepreneurship, irrespective of their academic background.
During the implementation of the Movement Control Order 2.0 (MCO 2.0), Zulieda Azni, 24, started a food stall in Kepong called Warung Pokok with her partner, Nash Asmani Adili, 24.
“Initially, we started Warung Pokok to help us pull through during the MCO 2.0 period.
“We actually run our own businesses as well. I run a fashionwear business selling women’s clothing, shoes and my own brand, DIDA. Nash runs a food delivery business.
“But, the MCO 2.0 has affected our businesses badly. Due to economic uncertainty, not many people want to spend their money on apparels.
“So, we decided to venture into the food and beverage business. Nash had worked at a renowned food and beverage company for six years.
“We started Warung Pokok with our savings and named our stall after the tree under which we started the business for the first time.
“Even our logo is based on pachira aquatica or the money tree,” Zulieda said.
She said her experience in entrepreneurship during her university years had motivated her to embark on the business.
“When I was studying at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
I started a business with the Mariposa cosmetic brand while expanding my DIDA fashion wear business on social media.
“My parents, friends and lecturers motivated me and were my pillars of strength.
“Academically, I was doing well with a cumulative grade point average of 3.75.
“I have plans to pursue my Masters degree, but things are not conducive yet due to the economic uncertainty brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“So, I thought it would be better if I started a business first,” Zulieda said.
She said although it was not easy for graduates to get jobs due to the pandemic, this did not cause her to lose interest in carrying on the business.
“I believe that graduates have to be more creative to earn a living by applying all their skills and knowledge into running a business and use social
media effectively. As for Nash and me, we hope to open up more branches in Kuala Lumpur once the movement restrictions gradually ease.”