By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Jan 18 — Residents in the Klang Valley can anticipate a minimal hike in water tariffs ranging from RM1.50 to RM6 a month, following the announcement by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) on rate adjustment beginning February.
Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, however, said the state is committed to implementing a series of initiatives aimed at safeguarding vulnerable groups and preventing the increased costs from burdening them.
“The monthly increase will be less than the price of a cup of coffee, ranging between RM1.50 to RM6, but it will not surpass RM6.50.
“The adjustment in water tariff aligns with the business plan of all water concessionaires (to ensure the sustainability of operations),” he said at a press conference following the Selangor Digital School’s AI Nusantara programme graduation ceremony at DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City, here, today.
Yesterday, SPAN announced in a statement that the water tariff adjustment for domestic users in the Peninsula and the Federal Territory of Labuan will take effect on February 1, involving an average increase of 22 cents per cubic metre.
The adjustment is implemented under the Tariff Setting Mechanism (TSM), where the tariff structure and components are standardised and reviewed every three years to ensure consistency in the determination of fees.
SPAN said the increase is a necessary step to ensure the sustainability of water supply service, noting that the current rates are insufficient to cover the actual cost of supplying water, estimated at RM1.75 per cubic metre based on 2022 records
In response, Amirudin assured that the state government would introduce measures to alleviate the impact on the public.
“I will reveal later today the initiatives to support the public in light of the tariff hike,” he said.
