Puas even has the gall to consider getting into the filter business by suggesting that the RO (reverse osmosis) drinking water stations around the city are illegal ! I am quite fed up with the chocolate-coloured water that Puas is supplying to us and we as consumers have no other recourse or alternative simply because somebody had decided that supplying water was a good business to get into.

Twenty years ago, Malaysia was known for its potable water and there were no such thing as water filters in homes. Today, one water filter is not enough. Either you get an industrial-size filter or install several smaller filters before the kitchen and laundry tap. The color of the water is literally brown and it looks and smells like it came straight out of the Klang River. So if Puas is spending money treating it, then they must as well not. If this is progress Malaysian-style, then I would hate to see what 2020 has installed for us.

Whether or not Puas makes money is none of the rakyat 's (citizens') business, after all we were never consulted upon when they wanted to privatise the water works department. Our representatives in Parliament were never given the opportunity to debate it. So it really is immaterial if Puas is a money-losing concern. That is the Barisan National government's problem. They sold the business off and our water has since gone down the drain, literally. We, the rakyat have simple needs, we just want what we pay for - clean potable water.

In recent months many, including myself, have found our water bills escalating. This is as a result of estimated consumption and applying higher rates than normal. Again as my colleagues at work say, "what can we do, where can we go. We will sure to lose."

That is the general feeling of the public when it comes to any areas of disputes with government agencies. We can never win and nobody would take up our cause. If Pak Lah is serious about corruption and graft, begin with all the past privatisation projects. Corruption and graft affects us, the rakyat , in every way and every aspect of our lives.