Unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil (left) said that Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor’s allegations concerning discriminatory practices by the Penang government were unbecoming of a menteri besar.

PUTRAJAYA:

Unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil has hit out at Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor for claiming that Sungai Bakap folk faced long-standing water woes due to alleged discrimination by the Penang government.

This comes after Sanusi, in launching Perikatan Nasional’s by-election machinery on Saturday, said there was no water in Sungai Bakap but ample supply in Tanjung (George Town) as Sungai Bakap was a “Tok Lebai” area.

“The people here have the same skin colour as me. Do you think they care about you? Only these kinds of areas have (water) issues. Sixty per cent of residents here are like me, that is why there are issues,” he said at the launch.

Fahmi slammed Sanusi over his claim, saying it was unbecoming of a menteri besar to make such allegations.

“That is a seditious and racist statement,” the communications minister said at a press conference here today.

“He often speaks lies, not facts. On stage, he can say that education minister Fadhlina Sidek was elected Nibong Tebal MP with a majority of 100 votes, when a Google search would show she won by over 16,000 votes.

“If he fails (to verify the facts) in simple matters like this, how can he lead a state government?” he said, adding that Sanusi was a “very problematic person”.

Earlier, FMT reported Penang infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari as denying claims of favouritism in addressing the state’s water woes. Zairil also rubbished Sanusi’s claim that the DAP-led administration’s actions were racially motivated

He said the water issues in the Seberang Perai Selatan areas over the past few years had been due to a sudden increase in demand.

Zairil also said the issues had been addressed through various measures by the Penang Water Supply Corporation, which had implemented four mitigation projects, including raising the capacity of the Bukit Panchor water treatment plant and installing new pump tanks in Taman Widuri.

Bukit Bendera DAP lodged a police report in George Town today over Sanusi’s remarks, claiming defamation and sedition.

“Sanusi’s statements are an attempt to sow discord within the community for narrow political gains,” it said in a statement, describing the menteri besar’s accusations as baseless, irresponsible and inflammatory.

FMT has reached out to Sanusi’s office for comment.

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Fahmi slams Sanusi’s ‘racist’ claim of Sungai Bakap discrimination

Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor had claimed that residents in Sungai Bakap, a Malay majority area, had long-standing water woes due to their skin colour.