Water rate hike - Johor, Sabah say 'no' but minister says all agreed

Both Sabah and Johor have insisted they are not going to increase their water tariffs.

This in response to Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar who claimed that all the states have agreed in principle to an increase in water tariffs.

Johor's International Trade, Investment and Utilities Committee chairperson Jimmy Puah said the state government will maintain its stand to not increase water tariffs in the southern state.

"In fact, the National Water Service Commission (Span) met us yesterday and we told them our stand," he told Malaysiakini in a text message.

When contacted, Sabah's Health and People's Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wong also said Sabah would not increase its water tariffs.

"Chief minister Shafie Apdal has said so (as reported on Jan 10), and we have never discussed the matter further," he said.

The Sabah government was focussing on restructuring water services in the state, he added.

"Nobody approached us to discuss (federal government's plan) an increase in water tariffs," said Wong.

On Jan 9, Jayakumar said water tariffs nationwide might be increased in stages this year in line with the government's efforts to restructure the water supply industry in the country.

Yesterday, he was quoted by Sinar Harian as saying that all states had agreed to this in principle.

However, he said the federal government had yet to discuss the new rates with the state governments.

"The agreement (on the water rate hike) is there […] just that some states have not fixed the new rates," said the minister.

He added that both the federal and state governments had discussed the matter last year.

"This is not something new and all states were informed of the measure we are taking," said Jayakumar.

A thorough discussion was needed when determining the new rates so as to not burden the people, he added. - Mkini