‘ Higher water tariff if BN still in power’
> Residents would pay more due to agreement prior to 2008 election: MB
SHAH ALAM: Residents of Selangor would have had to pay water tariff at more than double the current rate of RM1.39 per cubic meter had Barisan Nasional (BN) remained in power in the state.
Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari said under a concession agreement made prior to the change in state government in the 2008 general glection, BN was to have charged the people RM3.15 per cubic meter for treated water this year.
Should Pakatan Harapan (PH) increase the water tariff soon, as being rumoured by many, it would not be as much as the rate to be charged by the previous administration, he said.
Speaking at the state legislative assembly when winding up the state’s
2019 Budget yesterday, Amirudin said Selangor remained committed ensuring enough treated water will be supplied to the rakyat at a minimal rate, especially for those in the low income bracket.
Later at a press conference, when asked to elaborate on the RM3.15 per cubic meter figure he quoted in the dewan, Amirudin said the then BN government had signed an agreement with the water concessionaires.
“There was a concession agreement between the state and Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor (SPLASH) Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB) and Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd (Abass),” he said.
When asked if the increase in tariff would be implemented in the near future, Amirudin said the final say would come from the Water, Land, and Natural Resources Ministry.
Its minister, Dr Xavier Jayakumar, who was also present at the press conference, said the matter would have to be discussed with all the stakeholders before any decision is made. “We will let you know as soon as possible,” he said.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had, on Monday, said the PH government was expected to announce a new water tariff for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, following its RM2.55 billion acquisition of SPLASH, which he said was 10 times above the original proposed price.