The disruption forced lots of of manufacturers within the state of Penang – often called the “Silicon Valley of the East” – to suspend operations.
Most schools were closed and a few hospitals postponed minor surgical procedures.
Four days without running water is absurd
About 100 water tanks have been deployed to ease the situation, but some residents have expressed outrage on the disruption.
“Four days without running water is absurd,” said Ooi Chin Hock, a former investment banker who filled six large plastic containers to stockpile water in his home.
“[This is]”a black dot on the state,” he added.
Technicians carrying out repair work on the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant, which supplies water to about 80 per cent of the state, were replacing two huge, leaking and rusty water valves.
Leaking pipes elsewhere can even get replaced through the four-day outage.
“Work is progressing as planned,” Penang Water Supply Corporation chief executive K. Pathmanathan told reporters.
Pathmanathan said he hoped for a gradual resumption of water supply from Thursday.
Lee Teong Li of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers in Penang said most of its members would close their plants for the primary two days after which hoped for partial restoration of water supply.
“We’re going to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. We’re going to lose revenue because we have now to pay employees while we’re closed,” he said.
