Water tariffs in Klang Valley to go up by 37pc

NST - With the increase, water will cost RM1.90 per cubic metre, up from RM1.39. The rise will take effect on Jan 1.

This news was revealed in the state assembly yesterday by Ng Suee Lim (DAP-Sekinchan), who said the increase was allowed in the concessionaire agreement between Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) and the state government.

He said assemblymen only knew about this when they were given a briefing by Syabas officials several weeks ago.

Ng said, according to the agreement, the state would have to pay compensation to Syabas if it did not approve the price hike. Consumers pay 57 sen for the first 20 cubic metres, RM1.03 for the next 15 cubic metres and RM2 for each cubic metre after that.

When met outside later, Ng said he was not sure how the price mechanism for consumers would work.

He urged the state government to review the concessionaire agreement and also questioned if there existed elements of fraud, corruption and abuse of power by anyone when the agreement was signed.... selanjutnya.