DAP asks about promise to review water rates

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KOTA KINABALU: Kapayan assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi has reminded the government of its promised plan to study and adjust the water rates in Sabah.

“I remember this assurance from the Minister of Infrastructure Development, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, when answering a question from the then Sri Tanjung assemblyman, Jimmy Wong, many years ago.

“It looks as if the minister and the government have conveniently forgotten about the issue when Jimmy is no longer an assemblyman,” he said.

During the assembly sitting, he said Jimmy had even brought in a few bottles of treated pipe water that obviously looked dirty and smelly as proof of how bad the water condition was.

Dr Bosi, who is also DAP Sabah secretary, said that water is a God-given resource. We must be careful how to treat and manage our environment as excessive clearing and felling of the tropical rainforest can lead to water shortage.

“Once our water catchment areas are disturbed and destroyed, the people will face the consequence of have no drinkable or potable water or no water supply at all.

“The forest acts like a massive sponge, and when we remove them, the rainwater becomes surface water which can lead to flash flooding, and during the dry spell, can lead to rapid water shortage,”he pointed out.

Dr Bosi said he had received several complaints concerning our water supply. The main complaint is the very expensive water rate of 90 cents per cubic metre (m³).

“The people have been waiting for the government’s action to review the rate and also to differentiate between household, commercial and industrial rate.

“Another complaint raised was whether it is allowed by law to sell water supplied by the government. In this case, I am informed by tenants and owners of units in apartment buildings that they have to pay RM1.00 per m³.

“I have raised this matter in the State Assembly and was told that the management of apartment buildings is allowed to charge tenants and owners at that rate.

“Is the management of apartment paying tax for revenue earned through selling of government water at an extra 10 cents/m³?

“If the units have strata titles issued to the owners, are they still required to pay water at RM1.00/m³?”he asked.

Dr Bosi said he hoped the government can provide answers to the complaints raised and consider reducing the water rate (tariff) as prices of commodities are rising at an alarming rate.

“Food on the table is getting lesser and lesser. At least, water, which is a natural resource, should be given free at a certain amount of usage targeting the lower income group while reducing the overall rate to help the people make ends meet,” he said.