PENANG WATER TARIFF RATE AMONG LOWEST IN COUNTRY

Penang has the second lowest water tariff rate in the country even after the announcement of the new domestic water tariff rates in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN). Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said SPAN also announced this new tariff rate in several other states, and this needs to be done to generate revenue that can cover infrastructure projects. "After the adjustment in the water tariff, Penang is the state with the second lowest tariff for the first 'band', after Terengganu," he said at a press conference here today. In Penang, SPAN announced that the new average rate for domestic water consumption of up to 35 m3 per month is RM1.17 per m3 of 1,000 litres and the minimum monthly charge is RM6.20 To answer the question of the water bill issued bi-monthly, Chow said this was a cost-saving measure. "To generate a receipt, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) needs to read the meter, transfer the reading for the purpose of p rinting the bill and send the bill to the homes," he said. "In certain cases, it is possible that this cost is higher than the collection." Earlier, Penang Gerakan urged the state government and PBAPP to give an explanation on the adjustment of the new water tariff rates which was said to be a burden to the people. Its public complaints bureau chief, Andrew Ooi was reported to have said this following his party receiving more than 50 complaints from local residents who claimed their water bill rates had gone up by 150 per cent. Source: BERNAMA News Agency