GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has agreed to give for free the first 10,000 litres of water per bill for six months and issue a RM20 rebate for large households with an income of RM5,000 and below.
State Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the state government took note of the people's complaints regarding the new domestic water tariff rates implemented in line with the readjustment of water tariffs by the National Water Service Commission (SPAN) since February this year.
He said, although Penang still enjoyed the second lowest tariffs in Malaysia, many had complained because of the sharp increase from the previous tariff which had not been adjusted for 31 years for the first band (20 cubic meters) and nine years for other bands.
"As such, the state executive council (Exco), which convened its weekly meeting today, has decided to instruct the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) to provide rebates to the people.
"The rebates will be in the form of free water for the first 10,000 litres of water for each bill effective July until December this year and expand the RM20 Rebat Mesra Keluarga scheme for large households (eight people and above) with an income of RM5,000 and below, an increase from the RM2,250 income threshold.
"With the rebates above, all domestic water users will enjoy a rebate of RM6.20 on each bill. For example, users in the first band only need to pay RM6.20 (RM12.40 minus RM6.20) for two months while consumers in the second band billed as RM30 only need to pay RM23.80 for two months," he said today.
The state government, according to Zairil, hopes that the rebates provided will to some extent help reduce the burden of the people.
It was reported in April that PBAPP had received about 300 complaints from consumers over the high water charges following the implementation of the new tariff.
The complaints started coming in at the end of February, when consumers started receiving their water bill although the new tariff took effect on Feb 1.
Since then, various quarters, including government backbenchersopposition have urged the state government to take action to resolve the matter.
PBAPP had said that Penang's domestic water rates were rational and reasonable despite continuous criticisms hurled against them, especially on social media, following the recent tariff hike.