By YB Elizabeth Wong
Press Statement
August 7, 2012
RAKYAT MUST BE GIVEN A GUARANTEE ON REASONABLE WATER TARIFF
Umno Selangor Deputy Chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar wants the citizens of Selangor to believe that newer, higher water tariffs as proposed by Syabas and Barisan Nasional will not burden the people. Under the concession agreement signed between Syabas and the Selangor state government, then led by Barisan Nasional, the water tariffs would have been increased upwards of 75% by now.
The only thing that has prevented Syabas from exacting this entirely unreasonable increase in water tariffs is the intervention of the new state government under Pakatan Rakyat.
Pakatan Rakyat is of the view that any increase in water tariffs is a burden for the rakyat that we must always strive to minimise. This is why the state government has pledged that water tariffs will not be raised more than 12% for at least three years, unlike the minimum of 75% that Syabas intends to impose immediately.
Datuk Seri Noh and Barisan Nasional's vested interest becomes plain for all to see as they continue to make every excuse and twist the truth to the point where they would have us believe that a 75% increase in water tariffs is "not a burden for the people."
The state government holds to its position that the only reason the federal government is pushing the RM 8.65 billion Langat 2 project is to enrich well-connected parties. The further RM 60 million a year that the people of Selangor would have to pay the state government of Pahang is another undeniable, unnecessary burden.
Barisan Nasional so eagerly says that it is the federal government that will foot the massive bill for Langat 2. In all likelihood, what this really indicates is probably an eagerness to siphon funds from the federal government into the pockets of a select few.
Bear in mind, the national debt our children and grandchildren will have to bear has already doubled since 2007 to a staggering RM 421 billion.
August 7, 2012
RAKYAT MUST BE GIVEN A GUARANTEE ON REASONABLE WATER TARIFF
Umno Selangor Deputy Chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar wants the citizens of Selangor to believe that newer, higher water tariffs as proposed by Syabas and Barisan Nasional will not burden the people. Under the concession agreement signed between Syabas and the Selangor state government, then led by Barisan Nasional, the water tariffs would have been increased upwards of 75% by now.
The only thing that has prevented Syabas from exacting this entirely unreasonable increase in water tariffs is the intervention of the new state government under Pakatan Rakyat.
Pakatan Rakyat is of the view that any increase in water tariffs is a burden for the rakyat that we must always strive to minimise. This is why the state government has pledged that water tariffs will not be raised more than 12% for at least three years, unlike the minimum of 75% that Syabas intends to impose immediately.
Datuk Seri Noh and Barisan Nasional's vested interest becomes plain for all to see as they continue to make every excuse and twist the truth to the point where they would have us believe that a 75% increase in water tariffs is "not a burden for the people."
The state government holds to its position that the only reason the federal government is pushing the RM 8.65 billion Langat 2 project is to enrich well-connected parties. The further RM 60 million a year that the people of Selangor would have to pay the state government of Pahang is another undeniable, unnecessary burden.
Barisan Nasional so eagerly says that it is the federal government that will foot the massive bill for Langat 2. In all likelihood, what this really indicates is probably an eagerness to siphon funds from the federal government into the pockets of a select few.
Bear in mind, the national debt our children and grandchildren will have to bear has already doubled since 2007 to a staggering RM 421 billion.
If we examine the financial mismanagement of Syabas, whose rate of wasted water (non-revenue water, or NRW) runs at the unacceptably high level of 32%, we see just one of many Barisan Nasional era projects that have caused the rakyat's funds to literally go down the drain.
Compare this to Selangor, where the state's financial reserves have increased more than fivefold from RM 400 million in 2008 to RM 2.1 billion today.
This increase in funds is a direct result of improved financial management, cost cutting measures, intolerance for corruption and the keen financial ability of Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who has turned around a great number of the state's commercial endeavours and increased the revenue of the state from these initiatives.
As a result of these increased profits, Pakatan Rakyat has successfully provided 20 cubic meters of free water for all the residents of Selangor, a programme which we pledge to continue well into a second term in government.
Instead of using the rakyat's money, the state government under Pakatan Rakyat has instead sought to cut leakages and improve it's own performance in order to ensure that even more resources can be made available for the benefit of the people.
We fully intend to bring this managerial principles and focus on the welfare of the rakyat to the management of the state's water industry.
There is no reason that either federal or state funds should be used to fund a white elephant mega project that cannot possibly be justified - at least until the non-revenue water in Selangor is reduced to acceptable levels.
Dato' Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui has been invited to present the federal government's views and concerns at a water forum organised by the state government. We hope that federal representatives will take up offers such as these to engage in open and honest dialogue so that the people of Selangor can judge for themselves who best represents their interests.
YB ELIZABETH WONG
Executive councillor Selangor State Government
Compare this to Selangor, where the state's financial reserves have increased more than fivefold from RM 400 million in 2008 to RM 2.1 billion today.
This increase in funds is a direct result of improved financial management, cost cutting measures, intolerance for corruption and the keen financial ability of Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who has turned around a great number of the state's commercial endeavours and increased the revenue of the state from these initiatives.
As a result of these increased profits, Pakatan Rakyat has successfully provided 20 cubic meters of free water for all the residents of Selangor, a programme which we pledge to continue well into a second term in government.
Instead of using the rakyat's money, the state government under Pakatan Rakyat has instead sought to cut leakages and improve it's own performance in order to ensure that even more resources can be made available for the benefit of the people.
We fully intend to bring this managerial principles and focus on the welfare of the rakyat to the management of the state's water industry.
There is no reason that either federal or state funds should be used to fund a white elephant mega project that cannot possibly be justified - at least until the non-revenue water in Selangor is reduced to acceptable levels.
Dato' Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui has been invited to present the federal government's views and concerns at a water forum organised by the state government. We hope that federal representatives will take up offers such as these to engage in open and honest dialogue so that the people of Selangor can judge for themselves who best represents their interests.
YB ELIZABETH WONG
Executive councillor Selangor State Government
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