KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor folk have been given the assurance that they can continue to enjoy the first 20 cubic metres of free water for the next five to six years.
Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the state’s finances were strong to sustain the policy in the long term, and he assured people that they would not be burdened by a water tariff hike anytime soon.
Amirudin acknowledged the criticism levelled at the Pakatan Harapan state government, especially after the recent announcement of the proposed RM2.55 billion takeover of Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (SPLASH) and how that might affect water tariffs.
However, the menteri besar said the free water policy was here to stay as the state’s coffers were stable and efforts to restructure Selangor’s water infrastructure were successful.
“So far, we are confident that we will be able to continue the policy, at least for the next five to six years. After that, we will look into the state’s financial ability to see how we can come up with a mechanism to continue the free water policy.
“The Selangor government is fully committed to continue providing 20 cubic metres of free water to the people. We are responsible government which ensures its policies do not become a big burden in future,” Amirudin told the New Straits Times.
He said the pledge to retain water tariff rates depended on the capability of the administration. He said the state government needed to consider all related matters and issues in view of the rising cost to produce clean water.
“At the moment there is no (water tariff) hike and we will continue the free water programme that cost RM180 million a year, although it did increase many times since its inception (in June 2008) from about RM70 million a year.
“Nevertheless, we are acting according to the state’s current capability and we are able to (bear the cost) despite drawing up many other programmes to benefit the people.”
On Friday, the Selangor government presented a RM2.55 billion offer to take over Splash, which was seen as a move that would end a 10-year impasse in the restructuring of Selangor’s water infra structure.
SPLASH agreed in principle to the offer, but it would be subject to the approval of its shareholders,
among others.
However, former Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the deal could result in the state paying 10 times more than what the state government under his administration had offered in 2013.
Khalid said the situation could force the Selangor government to review the free water policy for households or stop it altogether.
Non-governmental organisations, such as the Malaysian Water Forum, had insisted on an assurance from the state government that water tariffs would not be increased.
The Malaysia Consumer Movement also said the ultimate goal of the Selangor government’s water restructuring efforts should be to lower the water tariffs.
When asked to comment on Khalid’s statement, Amirudin said most of the concerns had been highlighted by Khalid in the past during state legislative assembly sittings.
“His queries and whatever that he said in his statement have been answered by my predecessor, (Datuk Seri) Azmin (Ali) many times in the state assembly.
“People need to understand the chronology. It was he (Khalid) who initially offered a higher price during the previous phase of negotiations (in the restructuring of Selangor’s water infrastructure).
“He then made a ‘U-turn’ at the very last minute after an independent valuer was appointed,” said Amirudin.