Property Malaysia

Let me sidetrack a little bit from the staple of Property Malaysia awhile. I read in the papers they are will be increasing the water tariff soon. The Star reported the following on Oct 16

Water, Energy and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik said that water tariffs would go up by 15% for Klang Valley consumers who use more than 35 cubic metres per month.
For consumers who use more than 20 cubic metres a month but less than 35, the tariff increase is 6%.
Syabas chief operation officer Datuk Lee Miang Koi said they had been working hard to improve the water quality for consumers, including setting up the 24-hour toll free Puspel hotline.
“We have always tried to improve the water quality since we took over from PUAS on Jan 1, 2005.

While the increase of the water tariff did not elicit response from the general public like when they increased the electricity tariff, toll price and petrol, many quarters did voice their discontent, especially on the timing of the announcement.

Firstly, it is important to note that Syabas has made it clear that the increase is targeted mainly for users with high consumption, as shown in the breakdown of the increase in the report above. However, for lower consumption, there is still an increase. The main gripe of the consumers is that the quality of water supply in most parts of the Klang Valley has come to a level that is no longer acceptable.

These days it’s all too common to hear of complaints that the water that comes out of our taps is brown. This isn’t limited to certain areas of the Valley only, it affects almost everywhere – Cheras, Kepong, Petaling Jaya, Puchong – just ask any one on the street or read the letters that appear in the newspapers. Some residents complain that the water smells like sewage, contain rust, mud, metal bits, and what not.

It’s a common sight to see water filters installed in almost every home. A quick survey around my neighbourhood confirmed 9 out of every ten home had one of those external units – this isn’t counting the internal units. Dealers of water filtration and purification systems are making big bucks these days – the number of different systems available in the market can attest to it, be it energy water, diamond water, ionized water or whatever they call it.

This only goes to show the level of water quality our system provides, or the public perception of it has become.

What is the problem, SYABAS? It’s poor publicity NOT to address the public complaints that is becoming more and more vocal these past few years. And now the tariff has been increased. Where is the justification?