04-08-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Why hike water rates when service remains poor, PKR asks Perlis government
KANGAR: The Perlis government has been urged to justify its decision to raise water tariffs by 22 per cent from RM7.20 to RM8.80 despite allegedly persistently poor water services across the state.
Perlis PKR deputy chairman Gan Ay Ling said the increase would place additional financial strain on residents, particularly those in rural areas and low-income households already grappling with the rising cost of living.
She said the tariff hike, announced amid worsening economic pressures, is especially burdensome for women, single mothers, and heads of households struggling to meet basic daily needs.
"The people of Perlis have the right to question the justification for this hike if the water supply services remain at a disappointing level," she said in a statement today.
Gan, who is also the state opposition leader and Indera Kayangan assemblywoman, questioned the rationale behind the increase.
"I have received numerous complaints about low water pressure in densely populated areas and rural communities, as well as reports of murky and unhygienic water supply," she said.
She also raised concerns over frequent supply disruptions without prior notice and highlighted the alarmingly high non-revenue water (NRW) rate, estimated at 62 per cent.
"This means more than half of treated water is lost before it even reaches consumers," she added.
Gan said there appears to be no clear long-term strategy or transparent plan from Syarikat Air Perlis (SAP) to reduce NRW, such as upgrading ageing pipelines or enhancing treatment plant capacity.
She called on the state government and SAP to provide a comprehensive explanation for the tariff hike, including detailed plans on how the additional revenue would be used.
"This is the steepest water tariff hike implemented in one of the country's poorest states. It lays bare the administrative shortcomings and the state government's failure.
"The state government must clarify whether there are any subsidy mechanisms or exemptions for low-income groups, and how it plans to address service quality issues like low pressure and poor water quality.
"The state leadership must understand the people's struggle for survival. Do not make the rakyat pay for the government's mismanagement. It is like rubbing salt into an open wound," she added.
