SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government says it has already initiated talks on the possibility of raising water tariffs in the state.
Infrastructure and Public Amenities, Agricultural Modernisation and Agro-based Industry committee chairman Izham Hashim said, the discussions have just been initiated given the high cost bore by the state government to manage the free water scheme.
However, he noted that if the tariff was to be raised, it would not burden the people. He said that as of now, the current tariff remains.
“We have just started discussions because the state government is taking on a high cost following the takeover of the Langat 2 treatment plant done by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
“So we will continue with what the BN government had done,” he told NSTP.
Asked to comment on a statement by former Selangor Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim whom together with five other opposition state assemblymen, would monitor the free water scheme, he said the state does not see a problem with it.
However, he criticised Abdul Khalid’s actions as the former Port Klang assemblyman does not hold a position in any parties.
“It’s irrelevant for him to monitor and pin his hopes on the opposition assemblymen alone. If he wants to do it as an ordinary citizen, then that’s up to him,” he said.
On Tuesday night, Abdul Khalid said he would be holding a discussion with the state’s opposition assemblymen to ensure that the state government maintains its free water programe and does not raise the water tariff.
Meanwhile, Consumer Association of Subang and Shah Alam (CASSA) president, president, Datuk Dr Jacob George,said Abdul Khalid’s move was a positive one that is seen as defending the interests of the people.
He said the people are now faced with high cost of living issues and as such, their welfare should be of utmost priority.
On Aug 3, the Selangor government, via Air Selangor, had tabled an offer letter on the takeover to SPLASH shareholders, with a takeover value of RM2.55 billion, after a 28 per cent evaluation discount on June 230, 2018.
Abdul Khalid had claimed that the purchase of SPLASH at the price would mean that the people of Selangor would have to pay 10 times more than what was offered to the previous state administration in 2013.