National sewerage service provider Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) has appealed to the government for exemption from the six percent goods and services tax (GST) for the domestic category.

Chief executive officer Abdul Kadir Mohd Din said according to the GST Act 2014, starting from April 1, the IWK bills for all services were charged with the new tax.

“We have appealed to the government to reconsider their decision to implement GST on domestic premises, but in the meantime, there is no exception,” he said after launching the Earth Greening Programme in conjunction with Earth Day 2015, today.

All services provided by IWK are subjected to GST such as sewerage services for connected premises, responsive desludging services, sludge treatment, clearing of blockages and refurbishment.

Meanwhile, on IWK’s plan to increase its tariff system, Abdul Kadir said the company was still in talks with the government.

“This move is to ensure that the consumers would use water conservatively, but for the time being, there is no resturcturing for the IWK tariff system.

“The charges are still flat now... for premises, low-cost houses and government quarters it is RM2, village houses within the city is RM3 and the rest is at RM8 per month,” he said.

In conjunction with Earth Day 2015, IWK organised the programme at the Bunus Regional Sewage Treatment Plant, which saw its staff and 50 students plant trees around the sewage treatment plant compound.

- Bernama