Public concerns about Penang’s proposal to raise water tariffs to deal with wastage continues to rage on.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he has heard public concerns of the impact of the proposed water tariffs hike on large families paying a water conservation surcharge (WCS).

“I will propose to the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) that for families with eight or more family members, they shall be given a 60 percent discount on WCS beginning May 1,” he told a press conference today.

“These large families will need to go to PBAPP and produce the ICs of those staying in their homes to qualify for this discount,” he added.

“This is our effort to reduce the burden of large families,” he stressed.

PBAPP general manager Jaseni Maidinsa said only 28 percent of domestic consumers pay WCS.

He added that more households in Seberang Perai are paying the surcharge as they have more family members compared with those on the island.

Lim is also upset that the New Straits Times and other  mainstream media have politicised the state government’s decision to raise water tariffs instead of focusing on the main intention of reducing water consumption to avoid future water rationing.

“The mainstream media had either selectively published distorted and inaccurate information or reduced our explanation to the local pages, while prominence is given to criticism in the national pages,” he added.

Lim said the state has a responsibility to do everything possible to avoid water rationing and will not allow the water resources and availability to be politicised.

He reiterated that Penang has the worst water demand management in the country, with a consumption of 311 litres per capita per day.

He said that as much as his administration does not wish to raise water tariffs, Penang’s water consumption that is 50 percent higher than the national average of 212 litres per capita per day is simply not sustainable.

“The public must be made aware of the severity of the drought and the real possibility of water rationing following the shocking decision by the Perak government to impose water rationing yesterday in Taiping, the wettest town in peninsular Malaysia,” he said.

Penang still has the lowest rate in Malaysia

He continued to stress that even after water tariffs are raised, Penang will enjoy the lowest rate in Malaysia.

This can happen as the PBAPP subsidises nearly RM70 million last year to maintain the domestic tariffs to be lowest in the country, at 31 sen for the first 35,000 litres per month.

The 31 sen is more than half the national average of 66 sen, with the most expensive water being Johor at 105 sen.

“The state will have to actively justify the need to raise water to avoid water rationing by replying on Buletin Mutiara or other alternative media which are fair and neutral to justify why it is essential to raise water tariffs,” said the PBAPP chairperson.

Yesterday, Lim started being hit by bullets, with Penang Gerakan slamming him for practising double standards and “swallowing his own words”.

“In his 2014 New Year message this year, the CM had proudly announced that the state government has not increased quit rent, water tariff, assessment nor business licence for this year and next year,” state Gerakan secretary Oh Tong Keong, said in a statement.