Adjusting water tariffs a must, says Terengganu exco man

 

Earlier today, the National Water Services Commission announced that water tariffs for domestic users in the peninsula and Labuan will be raised by an average of 22 sen per cubic metre from February.

PETALING JAYA: A member of Terengganu’s executive council (exco) has defended the adjustment to water tariffs in the peninsula, saying it is necessary to safeguard the financial position of state water operators.

Infrastructure, utility and rural development exco member Hanafiah Mat said Terengganu, in particular, had one of the lowest water tariffs among all states, and the rates had not been reviewed for the past 26 years.

Hanafiah added that there had been an increase in operational costs to process and supply treated water to the people.

“Syarikat Air Terengganu (Satu) will present a holistic adjustment in tariffs that will be able to bear the rise in operational costs and high development costs to improve and guarantee the comfort of users,” the PAS assemblyman said in a statement.

The current tariffs for domestic users in Terengganu are as follows:

• 42 sen per cubic metre for those who use zero to 20 cubic metres of water a month;
• 65 sen per cubic metre for 20 to 40 cubic metres a month;
• 90 sen per cubic metre for 40 to 60 cubic metres a month; and
• RM1 per cubic metre for more than 60 cubic metres a month.

Hanafiah said Satu spent RM180 million a year to sustain its operations, which included extracting and treating raw water as well as supplying treated water to users.

“At the same time, it needs to cover the costs of maintenance work, from repairing burst or leaky pipes to upgrading the water supply system,” he said.

Earlier today, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) announced that water tariffs for domestic users in the peninsula and Labuan would be raised by an average of 22 sen per cubic metre from February.

SPAN said this increase was still low and would not be able to cover the actual cost of providing water supply, which it said stood at RM1.75 per cubic meter based on 2022 records.

SPAN’s announcement was met with opposition from several quarters including MCA vice-president Tan Teik Cheng and Gerakan speaker V Prabagaran.

Prabagaran and Tan said the higher tariffs would have a significant impact on Malaysians, who are already grappling with the rising cost of living. The former also urged SPAN to retract its decision to adjust the water tariffs. - FMT