SPAN will ‘discipline’ water operators, says Santiago

 

Water operators can no longer cite financial constraints as an excuse for poor service quality, SPAN chairman Charles Santiago told host Wan Agyl Wan Hassan on FMT’s Kerusi Panas.

PETALING JAYA: The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) will not hesitate to “discipline” state water operators who fail to improve the quality of their services in tandem with tariff hikes which kick in today.

Speaking to Wan Agyl Wan Hassan on FMT’s new talk show, Kerusi Panas, SPAN chairman Charles Santiago said water operators will no longer be allowed to cite financial constraints as an excuse for poor service quality.

This is because the government has now honoured its pledge to standardise the average domestic water tariff rates at 22 sen per cubic metre across Peninsular Malaysia and in Labuan, he said.

“Moving forward, SPAN will discipline operators (for poor service quality). No more talk, no more discussions,” the former Klang MP said.

Santiago said SPAN had consistently called for water operators to improve their services, and even issued reprimands over their inadequate business plans. However, no changes were put in place due to a lack of funds.

“Whenever we identified problems with a business plan, the answer given was always that they did not have the funds (to implement the necessary changes).

“Now they do, so the improvements will be made. That is our (SPAN) promise,” he said.

The tariff rate adjustment was announced by SPAN on Jan 17.

At the time, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim explained that Putrajaya agreed to the revised rate following requests made by all state governments.

Despite the hike, the revenue is not sufficient to cover the actual cost of water supply, which in 2022 stood at RM1.75 per cubic metre.

Since then, almost all state governments have announced adjustments to the water tariff rates for domestic consumers. - FMT