KUANTAN: Despite being fined for committing water theft earlier this month, an iron factory located within the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) here chose to remain stubborn.
Although the National Water Services Commission Malaysia (Span) had cut off the illegal pipes at the premises on May 16, the factory had daringly reconnected the illegal pipes again yesterday.
Span’s Communications and Consumer Affairs Unit Director Mohd Fazil Ismail said checks at the site found the factory had made the illegal connections for the second time within a month.
“On May 16, we cut off the illegal water supply which is believed to have been installed since January. We noticed about 327,000 cubic meters of water estimated around RM500,000 was stolen.
“The factory paid for the losses on May 18 but surprisingly, the factory reconnected the illegal pipes without making any proper application,” he told reporters after raiding the site in Gebeng here today.
Kuantan member of parliament Fuziah Salleh, Teruntum assemblyman Sim Chon Siang and Span’s East Coast Region Branch Head (Pahang Branch) Arni Shahrina Shaharum also joined the raid.
Mohd Fazil said the pipes used for the illegal connection did not meet the specifications as the allowed size is 600mm and the factory had installed 300mm pipes.
“We will cut off the illegal connections and remove the pipes extending until the “valve” so that the factory will not be able to do any further illegal connection in the future.
“Although the factory had previously paid for the stolen water but legal action will proceed. We advice the factory’s management to put forward an application to Span for temporary water supply connection,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fuziah said she was upset that the factory chose to steal water when the residents here were experiencing water disruption due to the drop in water level in Sungai Kuantan following the continuous hot weather.
“The factory should adhere the law and file an application to the authorities for water supply and not make illegal connections on their own.
“We are not stopping any foreign investments but the factory has to comply to Malaysian laws and must not do as they wish,” she said.