CYBERJAYA: Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari has refuted claims that the change in free water policy which takes effect next year was due to the exorbitant cost in acquiring Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (SPLASH).
This was following reports that the state government would review the free 20 cubic metres water programme that would only cover the bottom 40 per cent income earners (B40 group).
Amirudin said the RM2.55 billion cost in taking over the concessionaire, which was finalised in August, did not involve the state fund.
“it (the acquisition) did not involve the state fund. So, it (review in free water policy) has no relation to the taking over of SPLASH as claimed by some quarters,” he told media after attending the handing over education assistance to the poor and hardcore poor here today.
Amirudin had during the tabling of 2019 state budget on Friday announced that the free water policy, increased from 20 to 25 cubic metres water per month, would only cover those in the B40 group who were registered with the E-Kasih programme.
Amirudin said the implementation of the reviewed free water policy would be finalised in March or April next year.
He said the state government must first hold a discussion with the management of Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) on the best mechanism to implement the programme to ensure that only those eligible were able to benefit from it.
“Rest assured, those in the B40 group or (people) staying in low-cost houses would benefit from the assistance.
“However, there will be a question on low-cost houses rented out to foreigners.
“So, we are in the midst of evaluating and looking at certain mechanism. This is to (also) ensure that even those who are not in the B40 would be able (to enjoy free water) based on certain conditions,” he said.
It was reported that the Selangor government would review the free 20 cubic metres water programme to be targeted at the bottom 40 per cent income earners (B40 group).
In response, former Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had on Saturday said the decision was not unexpected, given the state government’s high-priced takeover of SPLASH, which was part of its water restructuring move.
Abdul Khalid was reported as saying that the state government’s failure in securing the best deal for the people has led to high operational costs in running the water industry, rendering it unable to continue its ‘free water for all’ programme.