JOHOR BARU: The federal government's plan to increase water tariffs nationwide will not involve Johor, said state investment and utilities committee chairman Jimmy Puah Wee Tse.
He said this is because Johor had already increased its water tariff in 2015.
Puah said the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry's plan to increase water tariffs is part of the government's effort to standardise water rates in the country.
"The water tariff in Johor was just increased in 2015. Also, the water tariff in Johor is not lower than those imposed in other states. I see no need to increase the tariff at this stage.
"I see this as an effort by the ministry to balance or standardise water rates in Malaysia. Any further increase in Johor's water tariff will defeat the purpose," he said when contacted by NSTP here today.
He was asked to respond to Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources Dr Xavier Jayakumar statement today, in which he said water tariff rates may be increased in stages this year.
Following Xavier's announcement, the Penang government said the state’s water tariff rates are expected to increase by up to more than 20 per cent.