THE Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) must address the concerns of ratepayers over the steep water tariff hike, DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng said
The Air Putih assemblyman said people who do not live in Penang are bemused by the public reaction of to the new rates.
"They do not realise that Penangites are suddenly paying two to five times more. The highest hike complaint I received so far is the bill going up from RM10.64 to RM54,” Lim said on Facebook.
PBAPP has rationalised the hike as a measure to prevent water wastage and raise revenue by up to RM100 million.
Non-governmental organisation Aliran also questioned the sudden 182% hike.
Former Aliran president P. Ramakrishnan urged the water authority to readjust the water tariffs to a more reasonable level and re-introduce the conservation surcharge to penalise those who waste water.
He said consumers had been shocked by the latest water bills.
"The rates have shot up sky high for domestic users."
If only the tariff had been raised gradually and intermittently over the years, people wouldn’t be so hard hit, said Ramakrishnan.
"Is it fair for households with a single or two occupants to be charged such a high tariff when they don’t consume too much water?" asked Ramakrishnan.
He urged the state government must charge a separate rate for accounts that use less water. – June 6, 2024.
