WCS review is between PBAPP and SPAN: PBAPP CEO

GEORGE TOWN: The water conservation surcharge (WCS) review is between the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) and the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), said PBAPP CEO Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa.

He said the corporation was the one applying for the review and not the Penang state government nor Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He noted that Lim served as the non-executive chairman for PBAPP and for PBA Holdings Bhd (PBAHB).

“As a non-executive chairman, he has not played an executive role in the application,” he said in a statement.

Jaseni said all the documents were signed by himself and not by the Penang state government officials or by Lim.

He said the correspondence with SPAN on the review was addressed to its CEO Datuk Mohd Ridhuan Ismail and not to SPAN chairman Datuk Liang Teck Meng.

He said a request to facilitate the WCS review was sent in a letter dated June 23 while a Aug 7 letter was sent to the SPAN CEO to request for an official reply on the matter.

“PBAPP is waiting for an official reply from SPAN,” he said.

On remarks by Liang in relation to the WCS review application by PBA, Jaseni said it was “unprecedented” and may contravene Section 41(1) of the SPAN Act 2006 which deals with the confidentiality of business documents submitted by water operators.

“We would like to reiterate that PBAPP is the official applicant for the WCS review in Penang. As such, SPAN should officially address PBAPP, and not the state government,” he added.