More may get free water

30/04/2008 The Star

SHAH ALAM: Consumers in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya may be able to enjoy the first 20 cu m of water free if the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Putrajaya Corporation are agreeable to the Selangor state government's calculations.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said although both Federal Territories also get their water supply from Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) the offer for now was only for Selangor residents, who would get the free water from June 1.

He said the state government would present to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Putrajaya Corporation its calculations on how the free water supply was made possible in Selangor and ask if they want to join the exercise.

“If we can work out the calculations with (the local authorities in) Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya then we can extend the free water to these two places too,” he told a press conference after launching the Animal Homes Exhibition at the state museum yesterday.

He said the state government could not make a decision for Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya as it only had jurisdiction in Selangor.

However, according to industry sources, the state government is reluctant to provide free water to the two Federal Territories as it would further reduce profits to the state government.

The state government holds a 30% stake in Syabas through state-owned investment arm Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB) and feels that the profits belong to its taxpayers and thus it is all right to reduce them to benefit Selangor residents.

Khalid said the free water scheme for Selangor would be introduced as scheduled and the state government was working with Syabas on the implementation as well as changes in the billing.