Kedah still undecided on water tariff

ALOR SETAR: The Kedah government has still not decided whether to maintain or raise the water tariff because there is no official discussion about it with the federal government, says Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

He said the state will discuss with the federal government and the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) first before it is tabled at the state executive councillors’ meeting on Wednesday.

“We will listen to the arguments from the federal government first because they have the right to coordinate the water tariff and we concede the water tariff can change following several aspects.

“The changes depend on the amount of water supplied, the expenditure to build the infrastructure and maintenance which involve a large cost,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Mukhriz said the state too would look at the formula which the federal government and SPAN would use before deciding on the increase in the water tariff for the B40 group in Kedah.

“If implemented, it will involve a different water tariff rate for the B40 group, so we are not sure which approach we will take.

“We understand the need of the people and it is our priority,” he said.

Last Tuesday, Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar said the water tariff might be raised in stages this year in line with the effort of the government to restructure the water supply service industry in the country.

Earlier, Mukhriz together with Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah and over 800 participants took part in a 40km bicycle Fun Ride in conjunction with the 2019 Red Eagle Tour at Medan Bandar. — Bernama