An Umno assemblyperson’s remarks on water surcharge during yesterday’s state legislative sitting has irked Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

NONE Lim ( left ), who is DAP national secretary-general and chairperson of the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), lambasted the Umno rep for uttering lies and claiming that the surcharge was a burden to the people.

“He is like a crab teaching its young to walk straight,” charged Lim, pointing out that Shabuddin Yahaya (BN-Permatang Berangan), who raised the matter, was found to be paying high bills for water consumption.

Shabuddin had to pay RM255.30 for the months of August-September, RM228.3 for October-December, and RM219.14 for January-February, added Lim, reading out from the former’s water bills.

“When a water surcharge was added to his bill, it looks like his bill has gone down,” Lim said.

“He uses a lot of water himself... his allegation that the water surcharge has burdened others is not true,” Lim told reporters at a press conference today.

Those who use more than 35,000 litres per month have to pay merely 24 sen for every 1,000 litres of usage, he said.

Lim then distributed documents of water tariffs in Malacca and Johor, to prove his point that Penang is still charging the lowest rate.

“The state has not increased water tariffs but imposes a surcharge to save water... those who consume too much of it face a penalty,” he stressed.

‘Tariff in Johor six times more than in Penang’

“Why is Shabuddin not making noise over the water tariff in Johor, which is six times more than Penang, and for Malacca, which could come to three or four times more?” he queried.

Yesterday, Shabuddin complained that the state had imposed a 27 percent hike in water tariffs for trade consumers as well as a water conservation surcharge of 24 sen per 1,000 litres for domestic users who use more than 35,000 litres of water.

Penangites were now paying more for their bi-monthly water bill since November last year when the surcharge was imposed, he said.

water paips He also claimed that the water corporation had collected more than RM2.12mil in surcharge for January, February and March.

Following the surcharge implementation, Shabuddin lamented that he was forced to pay an extra RM45 for his latest water bill, totalling about RM219 last month.

In response, several backbenchers criticised Shabuddin for his comment, asking him if he owned a swimming pool in his house with his high water bill.

Lim said Shabuddin continued his lies when he remarked that commercial and industrial consumption of water is included in the water charge.

He added that only domestic usage of water is calculated in the bill  as “we do not add industrial consumption of water as we like”.

“I believe Shabuddin does not know maths, he should go back to school and study,” he joked.

“I also believe he pretends to be stupid, but it proves he lies again... all BN people are good at lying,” he added.

Lim said the state will continue to impose a fine on those who waste water as they are not eco-friendly.

“Already the NGOs are saying this charge is too low,” he said, adding that PBAPP getting more returns out of the surcharge was meaningless.

The PBAPP may receive more returns if they collect more fines but it would also have to provide more infrastructure later to cope with the increase in water consumption, and this would not be eco-friendly, he stressed.