IPOH: Perak will not raise the domestic water tariff despite expectations they will go up nationwide next year.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the Perak Water Board (LAP) and the authorities had discussed the matter recently, but the state government had no intention to raise water tariffs.
“We conducted a research on this since last year and, at the same time, the state government was also thinking about the welfare of the people.
“As such, we found that it is not the time to increase the water tariff for domestic use.
“However, there might be a minimal increase for commercial use,” he told a press conference after visiting Jom Crazy Karnival at AEON Big Falim, here, today.
He was responding to the Water, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar who said that all states had agreed in principle to implement water tariff adjustments by next year.
Xavier said the ministry was still negotiating a number of matters before it was finalised, adding that he would hold discussions with the relevant states on the new water tariffs, soon.
“Water tariffs have not been revised for the last 20 years.
“We want people to understand that the water industry requires a lot of funds to reduce the risk of supply disruptions.
“However, the government assures that (new) water tariffs will not burden consumers,” Xavier
said.
Faizal said the LAP has recorded big profits annually and there were positive signs of progression over the years, as such it was crucial for the LAP to maintain its good performance for the benefit of the people.