Survey on IWK charges

20/11/2003 The Sun

KUALA LUMPUR: A public survey on sewerage charges imposed by Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) is being conducted by the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM).

The survey, launched yesterday, is open to ACCCIM members and non-members nationwide.

Questionnaires can be downloaded from the organization's website at www.acccim.org.my. The closing date of the survey is Dec 31.

ACCCIM national council member-bum-chairman of construction and property committee Datuk Teo Chiang Kok said: "We expect to take about a month to compile the findings and make recommendations. The findings and recommendations should be ready to be presented to the Finance Ministry and the Housing and Local Government Ministry by the end of January."

ACCCIM national council member-cum-chairman of infrastructure and privatization committee Goh Bok Yen said: "Since the establishment of IWK and introduction of new Sewerage charges in 1994, there have been many cases of unresolved disputes on sewerage charges.

"We decided to conduct the survey after the commercial sector, including the constituent chambers of ACCCIM, has again brought up the long-standing issue and expressed dissatisfaction on the computation system that they considered to be unequitable and has imposed undue burden on them."

According to a chart provided by ACCCIM, IWK has reduced its charges for different categories of premises by between 25% and 44.5% since 1997.

When asked why there are grouses since the charges have been reduced, Teo replied, "Residential units are charged a flat rate but commercial and industrial units are charged according to the annual evaluation of their property value. Businesses in urban areas with less usage may end up paying more than businesses in rural areas with more usage. This is just one example of the complaints."