Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 5 April 2014.
Penang PR state government’s proposed water tariff hike is intended to avoid carrying out water rationing, where the proceeds goes towards government’s water projects. This is different from sugar price hike that benefits not the government but only private cronies controlling the sugar business. Pro-BN mainstream media has adopted the MCA and Gerakan line of attack on the proposed water tariff hike by equating the water tariff hike to the sugar price hike.
Equating the rationale for the water and sugar price hike is illogical and a specious fallacy because the proposed water tariff hike intends to avoid water rationing in the future. The sugar price hike is not to avoid any sugar rationing. When the Federal government decided not to subsidise sugar by removing the 20 cents subsidy, the private cronies controlling the sugar business did not lose a single cent but still recorded profits. These profits continued to be earned at the expense of the people who paid a higher price.
On the other hand, any proceeds from the water tariff hike would still belong to the state government and be utilised towards water projects for the people’s benefit. The Penang Water Supply Corporation or PBAPP continues to be the best water supply management I Malaysia with a Non-Revenue Water(NRW) at 17.6% as compared to the national average NRW of 36.4%.
I am puzzled by the self-contradictory remarks by Energy, Green Technology and Water deputy minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid in criticising the increase water tariff to curb water wastage because Penang can adopt the Ministry’s activities to save water. And yet he had admitted that the people are not heeding advice to save water.(see attached)
As the state government’s efforts towards curbing water wastage such as education and Water Conservation Surcharge(WCS) to penalise those who waste water over the last 6 years have failed, raising water tariffs is the last resort to avoid water rationing. The photos of consumers suffering from water rationing in Selangor, KL, Johor and Taiping should remind us their hardships, especially on women and the elderly.(see attached)
Climate change may result in a prolonged drought this year. Worse this drought may recur annually for an extended period for 5 years as had happened in Australia. We must remember that the prospect for a drought is very real with the ASEAN Specialised Meterological Centre in Singapore predicting lower rainfall in April to May and a dry spell between June to October this year.
The Penang state government stresses that even after we raise water tariffs, Penang will still enjoy the lowest domestic water tariffs in Malaysia. The PBAPP had subsidised nearly RM 70 million last year to maintain the domestic water tariffs to be the lowest in the country at 31 cents for the first 35,000 liters per month.(Trade tariffs are not subsidised) This 31 cents is more than half the national average of 66 cents, with the most expensive water being Johor at 105 cents.
I wish to reiterate that families with 8 or more family members, shall be given a 60% discount on WCS beginning 1 May 2014. These large families will need to go to the 9 PBAPP offices in Penang and produce their ICs or other proof of family members to qualify for this discount. PBAPP CEO Jaseni Maidinsa shall be handling the mechanics or kindly contact the following.
Contact : Puan Syarifah Nasywa bt Syed Feisal Barakbah
Corporate Communications Unit
Tel : 04-201 3231
Email : [email protected]
—–Mandarin Version —–
槟州首席部长林冠英于2014年4月5日在乔治市发表声明：
槟城建议调高水价，不能与白糖起价相提并论，前者是为了避免配水并让州政府得以进行水工程，后者没有让政府受益，而是让朋党自肥。
槟城建议调高水价，不能与白糖起价相提并论，前者是为了避免配水并让州政府得以进行水工程，后者没有让政府受益，而是让朋党自肥。亲国阵的主流媒体与马华、民政党的口径相一致，他们将水价上涨相比成白糖上涨。
将调高水价与白糖起价相提并论是不合逻辑及似是而非的谬论，因为水价上涨是为了避免未来需要配水。白糖上涨并不是为了避免配糖的情况。当联邦政府决定不再补贴白糖20仙时，控制白糖的私人公司一分钱都没有损失，反而赚大钱。他们还将继续赚钱，结果是人民需要为他们的利益买单。
另一方面，任何调高水费后所取得的收益，还是归还给州政府，并将之使用在对人民有利的水工程上。槟州供水机构向来是全马最好的水管理机构，槟州无收益水为17.6%，比起全国无收入水36.4%，为全国最低。
对于能源、绿色工艺及水源副部长拿督斯里马兹尔卡立批评槟州调高水价以应付挥霍用水的问题，因为槟城可以采取该部长的措施来节水。然而他也承认人民并没有听取劝告节约用水（看附件）。
由于州政府过去六年一切关于节约用水的教育活动及水源保护附加费的措施皆失败，因为我们不得不调高水价，以避免未来需要配水的问题。消费人在雪州、吉隆坡、柔佛及太平都面对配水的苦恼，这对妇女及老人家都造成不便。（见附件）
气候变化将导致今年的旱季延长。更糟的是，这种旱季将在未来5年内每年发生一次，像澳洲那样。我们必须记得这种旱季是现实，新加坡的亚细安专业气象中心预料，4月到5月雨量较少，6月到10月可能再次干旱。
槟城政府强调，就算我们抬高水价槟城依然是全马水价最低的州属。槟城水供机构在去年已经津贴将近7000万令吉，以维持全国最低的家庭用水价格，那就是一个月3万5000令吉31仙。这个31仙是全国平均水价66仙的一半，水费最高的是柔佛105仙。
我也要强调，那些拥有超过8人或以上的家庭，他们将在2014年5月1日开始，获得保护水源附加费60%的折扣。这些大家庭需前往槟城供水机构，出示家庭成员的身份证以获得这项折扣。槟州供水机构总裁加西尼将处理这项机制。
Contact : Puan Syarifah Nasywa bt Syed Feisal Barakbah
Corporate Communications Unit
Tel : 04-201 3231
Email : [email protected]