Water tariffs can’t be raised arbitrarily, says Chin

SERDANG, Aug 30 — Water tariffs cannot be raised arbitrarily but  will be negotiated between the concessionaire, Selangor government and federal government.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui said the Selangor government claim that water tariffs would rise dramatically with completion of Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant was untrue.

"The completion of Langat 2 project will not necessarily cause the water tariffs to rise," he told reporters after attending his ministry's Aidilfitri open house at Malaysia Agro Exposition (Maeps) here today.

Selangor Exco member Xavier Jayakumar claimed the people will have to pay  higher water tariffs when Langat 2 project worth RM3,744 billion is implemented.

Jayakumar said Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) as the only concessionaire in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya will have to raise water tariffs.

Chin said the federal government wanted Langat 2 project to be implemented this year for completion by 2015 to supply 1.130 million litres of water daily to eight million users by 2025.

"Langat 2 project will take three to three and a half years to complete. If it can't be completed by 2015, the Klang Valley population will face severe water problem as mitigation projects to increase water in Selangor is inadequate.

"We may have to get water supply from Pahang to meet the growing need and demand for water," he added. — Bernama