LABUAN – Pakatan Harapan (PH) here will be submitting a memorandum to the prime minister and minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) to appeal for a postponement of the proposed water tariff adjustment scheduled to take effect February 1.
Labuan PH chairman Simsudin Sidek said the state of water supply here is unsatisfactory and must be addressed before any tariff adjustments are implemented.
Simsudin, in a statement reported by Bernama, also said there are frequent water supply disruptions and low water pressure.
He urged the National Water Service Commission (SPAN) to address these issues before proceeding with the proposed tariff increase.
“It is crucial for SPAN to ensure the adjustment does not unduly burden the residents of Labuan, particularly those who are in the low-income bracket,” he said, adding that he was not against a tariff review, but questioned its timing.
He also pointed out that Labuan was among the top three states and territories with the highest water tariff rates and cost of living.
SPAN announced a tariff hike last week for domestic users in all states in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan to ensure sustainability of water treatment and distribution services.
At an average increase of 22 sen per cubic metre, SPAN said this is still below the actual cost of treatment and operations.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who was in Labuan today, said the island federal territory must secure alternative water sources and reduce its reliance on mainland Sabah for its water supply.
“Considering the occasional disruptions to water supply from the mainland, Labuan must have new water sources.
“I have initiated discussions on the development direction of water supply projects in Labuan to identify new sources that can alleviate its dependence on mainland Sabah,” he said after visiting the pipe replacement project at the Pulau Enoe main water distribution station.
Labuan receives its water supply from the Lawa Gadong Water Treatment Plant in Beaufort through a 25.7-km undersea pipeline leading to the Pulau Enoe main water distribution tank.
Fadillah also said ongoing water pipe replacement works to resolve leakages were challenging as additional manpower and credible contractors are needed.
An allocation of RM300 million under the federal budget for 2024 has been approved for the replacement in Pulau Enoe and Bukit Kalam by the second quarter of this year, he added. – January 21, 2024