KUALA LUMPUR – Former water, land and natural resources minister Datuk Xavier Jayakumar (Kuala Langat-independent) has called on the government to consider increasing sewerage and water tariffs to improve services.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, he said the extra income can be used to boost other aspects of the government’s delivery system and services, and implement people-centric projects.
He highlighted how Putrajaya allocates about RM100 million each year to national wastewater and sanitation company Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) to help it with its operations.
He urged all lawmakers to support his proposal and push for a tariff hike.
“If I can ask all MPs to push for a water and sewerage tariff hike, we can reduce the RM100 million amount paid to IWK each year,” he said when debating the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“Can you imagine, in five years, we will have RM500 million that we can use for education, health and research, among others.
What’s the problem with increasing the water tariff or IWK charges by RM5 or RM10? It is sad that some are buying apartments costing millions of ringgit, but pay only RM8 a month to IWK. I call (on the government) to review and possibly increase these tariffs so that we can have a future-proof industry.”
Separately, Xavier urged all states to set aside their political differences and help one another in terms of water supply by sharing their resources.
The former PKR lawmaker said several states are either currently experiencing or may soon face water shortages, including Kedah, Penang, Melaka and Johor.
“We have to learn to share our resources, they are all one. It is by rain that we get water. States must stop saying that others can’t take water from them. This will affect our water industry.”
While he did not identify particular states, the Kedah and Penang governments were caught in a bitter disagreement over the issue of water supply earlier this year.
It came after Kedah announced a plan to build 14 large water tanks along Sg Muda – which would effectively reduce supply to Penang – to ensure enough water for the state’s residents.
About 80% of Penang’s water is extracted from the section of the river that flows in its territory. – The Vibes, September 30, 2021
