‘Penang water surcharge hike will burden the people’

GEORGE TOWN: The proposed water conservation surcharge hike in Penang will further burden the people, state Umno chief Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman says.

The state government should realise the surcharge did not effectively lead to water conservation when it was imposed in 2010 and increased in 2013, he said.

He labelled the surcharge as a penalty on Penangites that did not reduce water consumption but only increased the income of the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP).

“The state government should be reminded that the domestic water tariff was increased by 16.7% in 2015, although they had repeatedly promised not to do so,” he said in a statement.

Zainal said from 1993 to 2008, the Barisan Nasional government neither increased the price of water nor imposed surcharges, and yet could provide good quality water.

“The government should be more empathetic towards the people’s cost of living and not tax them further,” he added.

The water conservation surcharge was 24 sen when first imposed in 2010.

It was raised to 48 sen in 2013.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced on Sunday that the state was applying to the National Water Services Commission for approval to increase it to RM1, on every thousand litres used after 35,000 litres for domestic users.

Penang Hindu Association deputy president P. Murugiah, however, supported the surcharge increase, provided measures were in place to ease the burden on the less fortunate.

“People should be more careful about using water after the increase.

“But the state should also find ways to help the poor and the aged, such as a special card for them to get discounts on water bills or a different water tariff for low-cost homes,” he said.

The Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) also supported the state’s move.

CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris said the state should also encourage rainwater harvesting in homes to reduce reliance on piped water.

Lim, in a statement yesterday, said large households were taken care of because those with eight or more family members were given a 60% discount on the surcharge.

“There are only a small number of such households, less than 1,000, enjoying the 60% surcharge discount now,” he said.