KUALA LUMPUR – Perlis and Negri Sembilan have also announced water tariff hikes effective February 1, as part of a peninsula-wide adjustment.
In Perlis, consumers will pay 70 sen per cubic metre for usage up to 20 cubic metres, and RM1.10 per cubic metre for usage within the 21-35 cubic metre band.
For usage over 35 cubic metres, they will pay RM1.50 per cubic metre.
The minimum charge per month for domestic users is RM7, Bernama reports Syarikat Air Perlis chief executive officer Mohmad Asari Daud saying.
The current rates for water in Perlis are 40 sen per cubic metres for usage up to 15 cubic metres, 70 sen per cubic metre for usage in the 16-40 cubic metres band, and RM1.10 for usage over 41 cubic metres. The current minimum charge is RM4.
In Negri Sembilan, the new rates are 71 sen per cubic metre for usage below 20 cubic metres, RM1.09 per cubic metre for the 20-35 cubic metre band, and RM1.64 per cubic metre for usage over 35 cubic metres.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the last adjustment for domestic rates was 22 years ago.
With the increase, the average monthly consumption per household of 22 cubic metres per month will see monthly domestic water bills increase by RM3.68 or 12 sen per day, Bernama quoted Aminuddin as saying.
Penang earlier announced its new water tariffs while maintaining targeted rebate programmes for lower-income households.
The rate hikes are in line with the National Water Services Commission’s announcement earlier today that domestic water tariffs will be raised starting February 1 for consumers in Peninsular Malaysia and the federal territory of Labuan.
Kedah and Perak meanwhile, are to conduct a detailed study before announcing new rates, while Johor is waiting for further clarification from the federal government.
This is because Johor does not receive direct benefits from water tariff adjustments, state Public Works, Transport and Infrastructure exco Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said.
“In Johor the water operators are private companies. In other states, the operators are under the state government, so they can benefit directly.
“Our benefits can be building new dams and so on. We need further study (from the federal government),” Fazli said, adding that Johor’s water tariff was last adjusted nine years ago. – January 17, 2024