GEORGE TOWN: The implementation of the new water tariff in Penang, which begins on July 1, cannot be delayed because the measure is important to ensure that various development projects and infrastructure upgrades can be implemented to guarantee the continuity of water supply in the future.
State Transport, Infrastructure and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the profits currently recorded by the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) were not sufficient to fund various large-scale projects planned to meet the increasing demand for water.
“Among the projects that are currently being implemented and will be implemented are the construction of the Mengkuang Water Treatment Plant (LRA), two new LRAs in Sungai Krian with a capacity of 80 million litres per day (MLD) and 114 MLD, raw water intake projects in Sungai Prai and Sungai Muda, and the replacement of old pipes.
“Each water treatment plant costs hundreds of millions of ringgit, all these projects require large funds and cannot be delayed because it is important to guarantee water supply in the future,” he said at a press conference at Komtar, today.
He was commenting on calls from several parties for the state government to delay the implementation of the new water tariff and provide an open explanation of the utility company’s financial position, administrative expenses and future development plans.
Commenting further, Zairil said that among the factors that contributed to delays in the development of water supply infrastructure in the past was tariff rates that were too low, which limited PBAPP’s ability to invest in new facilities.
“If the tariff is too low, the income generated will not be enough to make investments in infrastructure, which is why we need to increase PBAPP funds so that all planned projects can be implemented according to schedule,” he said.
At the same time, he stressed that PBAPP and the state government continue to take into account the interests of domestic consumers, especially those who use water at low rates, by ensuring that tariff increases for consumption of less than 35,000 litres of water per month remain at a controlled level.
Yesterday, the state government announced that Penang will implement new water tariff rates for domestic and non-domestic consumers starting July 1 after its implementation was postponed for 12 months.
The adjustment involves 82 percent of domestic consumers or households who use 35 cubic metres of water or less per month, with an increase of 8.5 sen or RM2.55 per month.
— BERNAMA
