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 (pix) said under a concession agreement made prior to the change in state government in the 2008 General Election, BN was to have charged the people RM3.15 per cubic meter for treated water this year.
He added that should Pakatan Harapan (PH) increase the water tariff soon, as being rumoured by many, it would not be anywhere near as the rate charged by the previous administration.
“If there was no change in state government in 2008, the water tariff now would have been at a rate of RM3.15. But we (PH) have maintained the 2006 rate of RM1.39 until today.
“Which is why if there is an increase in the tariff, it will not be as exorbitant (as the RM3.15 rate),“ he told the state legislative assembly when winding up the state’s 2019 Budget, here, today.
He added that Selangor remained committed to ensure enough treated water would be supplied to the rakyat at a minimal rate, especially for those in the lower income group.
Later at a press conference, when asked to elaborate on the RM3.15 per cubic metre figure he quoted in the dewan, Amirudin said the then BN state 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 for the press conference, said the matter would have to be discussed with all the stakeholders before any decision was 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 ten time above the original proposed price.
