In a statement issued today, Gooi said the move showed that the state government was unable to pinpoint the real cause of the water shortage problem or how to solve it.

“The special task force shows that in truth, the state government is groping in the dark,” he said.

The Kedah PKR deputy chairman also criticized the outcome of a special meeting on the water crisis held yesterday that was chaired by the MB.

“Like many citizens in Kedah, who were expecting to hear concrete and firm plans to overcome the Kedah water crisis after the meeting, we are all disappointed by Bashah’s announcement with no new measures to be taken except to provide temporary water tanks to the poor in affected areas and the setting up of the special task force to look into the problem.

“I reiterate that the calling of the special meeting yesterday was merely a knee jerk reaction and a poor excuse of a publicity stunt with no long term solution in mind on how to solve the water supply crisis.

“How long will the short term temporary measures, such as providing water tanks and building tube wells, last? He didn’t even provide a definite date as to when the special task force is supposed to come out with their findings.”

Gooi said his first steps, on the other hand, would be to immediately seek a follow-up appointment with Syarikat Air Darul Aman Sdn Bhd (SADA) to hear from it first hand on the water crisis currently facing Kedah.

“I have raised this water shortage issue before in the press and with SADA and in Parliament in January, and I will continue to put pressure on the Federal Government to look into this issue seriously.”

Gooi has urged Bashah to announce a definite time frame for the special task force to complete and publicly announce its findings.

He said the state government should invite elected representatives from both sides of the political divide and interested parties, such as expert NGOs and academics, to sit in the task force.

He said the task force should organize public town hall sessions to allow the public to provide feedback on the water shortage problems.

“Kedah’s water shortage crisis is very serious and it is the state government’s responsibility to resolve it. This is no laughing matter and will require serious political will to overcome the problem.”