PENANG MCA has handed Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow a letter objecting to the likely increase in water tariff rates.

Its spokesman Ooi Teik Liang claimed that the increase would affect the economy and subsequently put a financial strain on consumers.

He said that while the water rate would still be the lowest in the country after the increase, it was not the right time for the Penang government to impose the move.

“The increase in rates will lead to a rise in prices of products in the food and beverages industries and any products using water,” he said at a press conference after handing over the objection letter to a representative from the Chief Minister’s office in Komtar on Friday.

“This will put more pressure on people as their daily living costs will also increase even though the state government will likely remove the water conservation surcharge.

“According to a report from the Debt Management and Counselling Agency (AKPK), three out of 10 Malaysian adults need to borrow money in order to cover their daily expenses.”

The letter signed by Penang MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng stated that in the past 10 years since DAP started ruling the state, water prices had increased by four times, which is more than a 20% hike.

It was reported recently that Chow said Penang would still have the lowest water tariff rates in the country despite a likely increase in charges.

He had said the increase was inevitable.

Chow had also said that if water tariff rates in Penang went up, it was likely that the water conservation surcharge imposed to reduce water wastage would be removed.

Ooi also pointed out that Sabah had recently announced that there would be no water price hike in the state.

“If other states can do this, why can’t Penang?” he questioned.

Also present at the handing over of the letter were Penang MCA spokesmen Kuan Hin Yeep and Soon Chin Kim.

-The Star-