‘It’s totally untrue’

> Revenue from water surcharge does not go to CM’s office, says Penang water corporation

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) yesterday denied money collected under the Water Conservation Surcharge (WCS) was channelled to the office of the chief minister.

PBAPP chief operating officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said the allegation was “totally untrue”, and “false and incorrect”.

He said revenue was channelled to capital expenditure (capex) projects to ensure there would be no water rationing during the dry season.

He said PBAPP wanted to ensure there was sufficient water as mandated by the “no water rationing” policy of the Penang government.

“This is false and incorrect, we are a listed company,” he told a press conference with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Jaseni said this in response to Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abd Rahim’s call for Lim to come clean on the allegations.

On Penang Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman asking DAP to explain how the party funded dinners “almost every night”, Penang Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the state chapter had only organised three dinners this year.

Chow also denied insinuations that illegal gambling kingpins were channelling funds to his party.

He said such people would want protection from enforcement authorities and pointed out that DAP had no control over enforcement agencies.

Lim questioned which gambling syndicate would want to associate with a state government that cannot issue gambling licences and did not want a casino in Penang.

“For illegal gambling activities, police are the ones who will take action, not the state government,” he added.