Penang CM: Hike in penalties doesn't mean higher water tariffs

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the proposed hike in penalties for domestic consumers who waste water or use water excessively does not mean an increase in water tariffs.

Lim reiterated that under the present proposal, water tariffs for domestic users remain unchanged.

He described Penang as having the "unfortunate record" of being the state with the highest domestic water consumption rate in the country of around 286 litres per person per day in 2016.

"This compares unfavourably to the Malaysian national average of only 209 litres per person per day, the United Nations’ suggested usage of 165 litres and Singapore’s usage of only 148 litres per person per day," Lim said in a statement.

Lim said Penang’s high domestic water consumption rate is caused by the state having the lowest water rates in the country at an average of 32 cents for 35,000 litres per consumer per month, as compared to Johor’s RM1.32 (more than 4 times higher).

"Domestic water tariffs are so low that water is wasted," said Lim, who is also chairperson of the Penang Water Supply Authority (PBAPP).

"Such high domestic water consumption usage is both unsustainable environmentally and financially," he added.

He noted that PBAPP had to subsidise RM91 million in 2016 to help the state maintain the lowest domestic water rates in Malaysia.

NGOs, including the Consumers’ Association of Penang and Water Watch, have criticised the Penang government for failing to get serious about conserving water and protecting the environment by at least doubling or tripling the existing domestic water rates.

"Clearly the state government’s efforts to educate the public not to waste water, but to conserve water has failed," Lim admitted.

"However, the state government does not wish to double or triple the existing domestic water tariff," he added.

Water conservation surcharge

Lim urged the NGOs to give the state government one more chance, as evidenced by the state’s intention to increase penalties for those who wasted water or used water excessively.

He reminded them that presently, a penalty called the Water Conservation Surcharge(WCS) has been imposed on those who waste water or use water excessively.

The penalty imposes 48 cents on every extra 1,000 litres of water used above 35,000 litres.

With the new proposal, this WCS of 48 cents will be increased to RM1, Lim said.

"Consumers with large households are taken care of because those with eight or more family members are given a 60 percent discount on the WCS charges," said the DAP secretary-general.

"The number of large households (eight or more family members) are small because there are less than 1,000 households enjoying the 60 percent discount."- Mkini