THE state government has issued a warning that heads will roll if water rationing is imposed in Penang.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in a recent statement said: “I assures investors, tourists, the business community and residents unequivocally that the directive of “no water rationing” in Penang is a top priority.”
In this respect, he said the state will adopt every measure possible to conserve water resources, including increasing domestic water tariffs for the first time since 1993, to avoid water rationing.
The statement by Penang Water Supply Corporation(PBAPP) general manager Jaseni Maidinsa that Penang may still face water rationing because of lower than expected rainfall this month is unacceptable, Lim said.
As the state government is willing to “bite the bullet” by allowing water tariffs to rise, Jaseni has been informed that heads will roll if water rationing has still got to be imposed.
The state government agrees with Jaseni that there is no rationing in Penang because PBAPP has been managing water supply efficiently with water loss calculated in terms of Non-Revenue Water at 17.6%, the lowest in Malaysia compared to the national average of 36.4%.
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Jaseni added that it is not right, nor sustainable, for Penangites to use 311 liters/capita/day when other states are undergoing water rationing. Jaseni is correct because Penang’s water usage is 50% above the national average of 212 l/c/d. Singapore uses 151 whilst the United Nation’s recommendation is 100.
In making conserving water resources a priority, such high water usage in Penang is not sustainable during a prolonged drought and must be reduced through increasing water tariffs.
Lim also took the opportunity to correct recent news reports that Penangites may face a hefty tariff hike of up to 300% as proposed by thepresident of Water Watch Penang Prof Chan Ngai Weng of Universiti Sains Malaysia.
“I had replied that such a proposed 200-300% water tariff hike would be too drastic and the state government will disappoint him. The state government will ensure that the new water tariff structure can reduce water usage but will not overburden the poor nor penalise conscientious users.”
Lim said in adopting the PBAPP management’s proposals to increase water tariff hike, the corporation must reciprocate by not even entertaining the possibility of having to impose water rationing.
“I reiterate that Penang will not have water rationing.