Free 20 Cubic Meter Water Effective 1st June

The new Selangor state government have announce recently that the state government have decided to waive the first twenty cubic meter water charge to selective households in effective 1st June 2008.

I was quite disappointed on this announcement as I belief the new PKR-DAP-PAS led state government could offer more than this recent announcement.

The water charge is currently at RM0.57 per cubic meter for the first twenty (20) cubic meter. The water charges over and above the first twenty (20) cubic meter are charged at the incremental rate of RM1.03 per cubic meter.

Therefore, the recent decision for Selangor state government to waive the first twenty (20) cubic meter will only benefit limited households which consume less than twenty cubic meter water per month. This waive also didn't include households with bulk meter, which form a substantial households in Selangor.

The Selangor state government shall conduct a more details and comprehensive study before making a decision to waive the first twenty (20) cubic meter water charges to win the support of voters in Selangor.

The Selangor state government should first ensure a clear understanding and control on the income generated and expenditure incurred on providing the water supply services to the resident in Selangor as well as sufficient reserve for the replacement of water pulp and building new water reservoir on the long term.

The Selangor state government should than examine the profitability that currently enjoy by the water utility company. If the water utility company is enjoying extremely high profit than the state government shall intervene by demanding to set a low water tariff which in turn benefiting all the resident in Selangor.