The Malacca state government has introduced a new regulation to impose charges on commercial use of raw water, even drain water.
According to a letter dated June 22 issued by the Malacca Water Regulatory Body (BKSAM) to business owners, they will have to pay for using water from all sources other than that provided by the Syarikat Air Melaka Bhd (SAMB).
They include ground water, from dams, rivers, canals, drains, reservoirs, streams, ponds, and lakes.
Industrial and commercial users of these water sources must pay a RM150 processing fee to obtain a licence from BKSAM and RM350 annually to renew the licence.
On top of that, they have to install a flow meter to record their usage and pay RM0.08 for every cubic metre of water used.
Applications for the licence must be submitted before June 16, failing which legal action will be taken against the users, the letter states.
Under Section 11 of the Water Supply (State of Malacca) Enactment 2002, unlicenced tapping into these water sources for industrial or commercial use can result in a fine of not more than RM300,000 or a jail term of not over seven years or both.
Khoo Poay Tiong,(left) the DAP assemblyperson for Ayer Keroh, described the new regulation as ridiculous and described the state government as being "crazy for money".
He told the media at a press conference yesterday that the move will burden many factories and businesses, pushing up their operating costs.
It was a desperate move to fill up the state coffers after many 'white elephant' projects, plus the state government's imprudent expenditure which had exhausted the state treasury, Khoo added.
According to a letter dated June 22 issued by the Malacca Water Regulatory Body (BKSAM) to business owners, they will have to pay for using water from all sources other than that provided by the Syarikat Air Melaka Bhd (SAMB).
They include ground water, from dams, rivers, canals, drains, reservoirs, streams, ponds, and lakes.Industrial and commercial users of these water sources must pay a RM150 processing fee to obtain a licence from BKSAM and RM350 annually to renew the licence.
On top of that, they have to install a flow meter to record their usage and pay RM0.08 for every cubic metre of water used.
Applications for the licence must be submitted before June 16, failing which legal action will be taken against the users, the letter states.
Under Section 11 of the Water Supply (State of Malacca) Enactment 2002, unlicenced tapping into these water sources for industrial or commercial use can result in a fine of not more than RM300,000 or a jail term of not over seven years or both.
Khoo Poay Tiong,(left) the DAP assemblyperson for Ayer Keroh, described the new regulation as ridiculous and described the state government as being "crazy for money".He told the media at a press conference yesterday that the move will burden many factories and businesses, pushing up their operating costs.
It was a desperate move to fill up the state coffers after many 'white elephant' projects, plus the state government's imprudent expenditure which had exhausted the state treasury, Khoo added.
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