The Penang state government would adopt every measure possible to conserve their water resources, including increasing domestic water tariffs for the first time since 1993, to avoid water rationing.
“The Penang state government wishes to assure investors, tourists, the business community and residents unequivocally that the directive of “no water rationing” in Penang is a top priority,” said MP Lim Guan Eng in his statement today.
Lim was responding to Penang Water Supply Corporation(PBAPP) General Manager Jaseni Maidinsa who said on Sunday that Penang may still face water rationing because of lower than expected rainfall this month.
Three key reasons cited by Ir. Jaseni were, reduced rainfall in April 2014 when compared to the past average, the level of Sungai Muda and the effective capacities of Penang’s three main dams have not fully “recovered” yet; and Penang’s per capita domestic consumption, at 311 l/c/d, is at an all-time high due to the lowest water tariff in Malaysia.
The Penang Chief Minister affirms that “heads will roll” if water rationing has to be carried out in the state as the state government is willing to “bite the bullet” by allowing water tariffs to rise. However, the state government agrees with Jaseni that there is no rationing in Penang because PBAPP has been managing water supply in the state 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%.
Lim also agrees with PBAPP, that Penangites water usage of 311 liters per capita per day is unsustainable 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”
“I would like to admit that almost all the genuine NGOs have been criticising the state government since 2008 for not carrying out the water tariff hike earlier,” said Lim Guan Eng.
The Penang Chief Minister also reiterated that the 200-300% water tariff hike as proposed by the President of Water Watch Penang Prof Chan Ngai Weng of Universiti Sains Malaysia, would be too drastic.
“The state government will ensure that the new water tariff structure can reduce water usage but will not overburden the poor nor penalise conscientious water users,”
“In adopting the PBAPP management’s proposals to increase water tariff hike, PBAPP must reciprocate by not even entertaining the possibility of having to impose water rationing”
“I reiterate that Penang will not have water rationing,” repeated Lim Guan Eng. -The Rocket
