Water charges should be standardised

The Star 20/9/2004

I have been staying in a medium-cost apartment for more than a year. Previously, our water charges were only 70 sen per cubic metre.  

However, we recently received a memo from our apartment management office stating that PUAS has increased the rate to RM1.20 per cubic metre.  

According to them, this is because of a reclassification of low-cost flats, apartments and condominiums. According to the letter to our building management, apartments which are not classified as low-cost flats will now be categorized as condominiums rather then the previous classification as apartments. The letter says this has been done through Warta Jilid 56 No 26 dated Dec 31 2003.  

I do not understand why there is such a category when the water comes from the same source. It does not make sense to differentiate charges according to the type of house we live in.  

Don’t tell us that those who stay in bungalows will be charged higher than those who stay in single-storey link-houses.  

Why can’t PUAS categorise the water charges according to type of usage? For example, separate it into residential or industrial as done by TNB.  

The water that flows from our taps is the same as that in the low-cost flats. In fact, there is no difference in the treatment process or in the quality of the water so why should there be a difference in price? 

Even if there are different categories for high-rise buildings, PUAS should separate it into low-cost, medium-cost and condominiums. Why are medium-cost apartments now being considered condominiums? 

A 71% increase in water bills is too much for those living in medium-cost apartments. Please bear in mind that we still need to pay for other maintenance fees. Just imagine how much profit PUAS makes from these exorbitant charges? 

 TAK PUAS HATI RESIDENT 

Kajang