PBAPP denies channelling Water Conservation Surcharge to CM's office

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) today denied monies collected under the Water Conservation Surcharge (WCS) was channelled to the office of the Chief Minister.
PBAPP CEO Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said the allegation was “totally untrue” and was “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 said in a press conference with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Jaseni was responding to Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abd Rahim urging 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 has only organised three dinners so far this year.
Chow also poured cold water on insinuations illegal gambling kingpins were channelling funds to his party.
He said such persons would want protection from enforcement activities and pointed out the DAP had no control over enforcement agencies as it was not in federal power.
Lim meanwhile also questioned how the insinuation made sense as the state government had no power to issue gambling licenses.
He questioned which gambling syndicates would want to associate with a state government which cannot issue gambling licenses 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.