Sleepless nights for elder over RM5.5k water bill

A senior citizen who takes care of a disabled child in Kuantan, Pahang, suffered from emotional stress and sleepless nights after receiving a water bill of RM5,563.90.

Kum Mun Seng, 82, said the arrears were accumulated from April to December 2020. 

“I was shocked to receive the cumulative outstanding bill around July 2020 before being informed of a leaking underground pipe, which was unknown to me until I was slapped with a high water bill,” he said when met at Taman Seri Setali, near Kuantan today.

“From the month of April to June 2020, I only paid the usual bill of RM3 or RM3.50 a month because this was the monthly rate charged to us.”

Kum said he also had to fork out RM700 to repair the broken pipe five months later in December 2020. 

“It was tough as I have no source of income now as I could merely rely on the monthly assistance of RM300 from the Welfare Department and the RM300 monthly allowance given to my 41-year-old disabled child,” he said.

Water cut-off notices

Kum sought help from PKR’s Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh and Teruntum state assemblyperson Sim Chon Siang in early April.

“Sim wrote an appeal letter to Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad (Paip) on April 26 in a bid to reduce the bill. Paip rejected the request, but allow me to pay in instalments,” he said. 

“I can’t sleep now and I am always worried about what to do if my water supply got cut off. They sent notices to me twice, (warning me) of water supply disruption if I fail to settle the outstanding bill,” he said.

Kum was referring to the notices sent to him in May and on June 16, respectively.

When met at the elder’s house, Sim said Paip should be more considerate and take into account the difficulties faced by Kum.

“I don’t know how he is going to pay the water bill. Paip’s suggestion to pay in instalments is illogical as he has to make a monthly payment of RM925 from June to November,” he said.

In a reply letter to the media, Paip, via its Kuantan district manager Noor Izwan Bahudin, said the appeal to have the water bill reduced cannot be approved.

The decision was made based on Section 36(3) of the Water Services Industry Act 2006, which states its obligation to maintain a public water supply system shall be up to the point of connection, namely the water meter.

‘Local MP should solve it’

Meanwhile, Fuziah expressed her disappointment with Paip’s decision. 

“They (Paip) should be able to handle this case as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, but it appeared that a senior citizen taking care of a disabled child has to pay for the outstanding bill as instructed,” she said. 

“Kum came to my service centre before this and we would assist him to settle (the bill) although he stays outside the Kuantan constituency,” she said.

“The Indera Mahkota MP (Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah) should have solved it, but it is okay. Kum said he knows me better than the Indera Mahkota MP,” said Fuziah. 

She also handed over a cheque amounting to RM5,600 contributed by her service centre to Kum.

“I hope members of the public can help channel donations, regardless of the amount, to the parliamentary service centre fund so that we can help more underprivileged individuals like Kum,” added Fuziah. - Mkini