Penang govt criticised over proposed water surcharge hike

GEORGE TOWN: A former Penang deputy chief minister has hit out at the state government over the proposed hike in water conservation surcharge, which he described as “getting crazier by the day”.

Datuk Dr Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin said the proposed increase was worrying because it would burden the people.

He said public-listed PBA Holdings Bhd – whose subsidiary Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) manages the local water supply – was making net profits of RM45mil (2011), RM29mil (2012), RM27mil (2013), RM24mil (2014) and RM38mil (2015).

“The state government is the majority shareholder (55%) of PBA Holdings whose chairman is Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“They’re earning millions but still want to increase the water conservation surcharge,” he said.

Dr Mohammad Fairus said the increase would affect 126,000 out of 504,400 households using more than 35,000 litres a month.

“When TNB increased its tariffs by 30% for those who use more than 300kWj per month, the Opposition called it a stupid move.

“This is clearly a case of hypocrisy of the DAP and the Opposition parties,” he said in a statement yesterday.

It was reported earlier that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government planned to increase the water surcharge to reduce domestic usage.

This will be the fourth time that the state is raising the price of water, with the conservation surcharge possibly going up from 48 sen to RM1 per 1,000 litres should the National Water Services Commission allow it.

Dr Mohammad Fairus was Penang Deputy Chief Minister I from 2008 to 2010 before he quit PKR and joined Umno.

He used to be on PBA Holdings’ board of directors when he was part of the state administration.