Water tariff review in 10 states to ensure sustainable supply
In PAHANG, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the state government would hold discussions with the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) to address regulatory matters concerning water supply in the state.
He also gave assurance that any tariff adjustment would not burden the people.
'We are still in the early stages and will hold discussions with SPAN from time to time,' he told reporters after launching the Aspirasi Pahang 1st initiative at the SUKPA Indoor Stadium in Kuantan yesterday.
In KEDAH, state Public Works, Natural Resources, Water Supply and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Mohamad Yusoff Zakaria said solid financial resources are crucial to enable operators to enhance service management.
He told Bernama that tariff adjustments are necessary due to rising electricity and production costs, including chemicals, but noted that the applications submitted by the 10 operators are still under evaluation and have not been finalised by SPAN.
Meanwhile, in KELANTAN, state Public Works, Infrastructure, Water and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Dr Izani Husin also supported the proposed tariff adjustment, saying it would help improve water services for the benefit of the people.
He said the move would also help stabilise the financial position of Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd, enabling it to enhance service delivery.
'Ten states have submitted the proposal to SPAN, but its implementation depends on the approval of the respective state executive councillors,' he said.
In JOHOR, state water service operator Ranhill SAJ is carefully planning the proposed tariff adjustment to avoid burdening most consumers.
Its chief executive officer, Anuar Abdul Ghani, said funds from the adjustment would be channelled towards upgrading ageing pipelines, improving treatment plants and strengthening supply infrastructure.
He also stressed the company's commitment to assist vulnerable groups through special rebates and called for continued public support.
'We seek continued support and trust from all parties, especially consumers. Every adjustment is an investment to ensure current and future generations will not face difficulties in accessing quality water supply,' he said.
SPAN on Wednesday confirmed receiving tariff review applications from operators in 10 states, namely Penang, Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Pahang.
All applications are still being reviewed to ensure a thorough evaluation before any approval is granted, with priority given to the well-being of 27.2 million consumers and the operators' ability to deliver quality services. - BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Redesigning national development
THE 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) 2026–2030, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last Thursday with the tagline 'Redesigning Develop-ment', outlines three main policy thrusts for the next five years. First, strengthening good governance to ensure equitable wealth distribution and people-centric administration; second, fostering comprehensive economic diversity to create value across all sectors; and third, focusing on inclusive and responsive development with an emphasis on improving the people's quality of life. All of these are designed to be executed with careful attention to the denyut nadi rakyat – the pulse of the people – so that the goals laid out can be achieved over the next five years. But these aspirations will only materialise if stakeholders at every level work together and deliver what has been planned. Too often plans falter due to leakages or abuses of power by those entrusted to implement them. This is why, to me, the first thrust – ensuring good governance – must be treated as the central pillar in achieving successful development. To support the Economy Ministry in this direction, Universiti Malaya's International Institute of Public Policy & Management (Inpuma) has launched a nationwide 13MP Townhall Series. This initiative is part of an ongoing research effort to help Malaysians understand their role in the country's development process. Adopting the approach of 'You Speak, We Listen and Record', the townhalls have yielded rich insights from citizens across diverse backgrounds. To support the Economy Ministry in this direction, Universiti Malaya's Inpuma has launched a nationwide 13MP Townhall Series, says the writer. The first leg of the tour covered three strategically chosen locations: Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, and Bandar Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur. Together, these locations offer a composite view of the nation's current realities, from rural and urban issues to quality-of-life concerns in both Bornean Malaysia and Peninsular Malay-sia. In Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu, citizens voiced deep and persistent concerns over basic infrastructure: access to clean water, Internet coverage, poor public transport, and uneven healthcare and education facilities. Many felt left behind compared with states in Peninsular Malaysia. A Sandakan resident stressed that water supply is the most critical issue: 'We've faced this for over 10 years.' Here, the people are not asking for grand development projects, they just want their basic rights restored: clean water and roads accessible year-round. It made me wonder: Should such long-standing water issues require federal intervention? What is the role of local leadership in resolving this? Is the issue a result of weak policies, or has there been abuse of power and misaligned priorities? In Kota Kinabalu, the focus shifted to affordable housing and quality employment. Young graduates expressed frustration at the lack of economic opportunities, which has driven many to move to Peninsular Malaysia or abroad. Concerns were also raised about unplanned urban development, pollution, traffic congestion, and misaligned growth. Many of these issues brought up during the townhall sessions directly echo the themes the Prime Minister outlined on July 31. In contrast, residents in Bandar Tun Razak centred their concerns on the rising cost of living, quality of public services, and work-life balance. Parents worried about education quality, overcrowded schools, and the lack of youth recreational activities in public housing areas. Retirees spoke of the burden of healthcare costs, despite being former civil servants. Post-pandemic challenges also emerged, including elderly care, mental health support, and calls for more efficient digital government services. Despite differing geographies, cultures, and lifestyles, all three communities shared a unifying aspiration: they want policies that truly reflect and serve them. The overwhelming sentiment is that people want to be heard – not just during policy planning, but in implementation and outcome monitoring as well. Which is why I am glad the Prime Minister gave emphasis in his speech to monitoring development projects. There is a deep sense of disappointment when longstanding promises – particularly around water, roads, and housing – go unfulfilled. Yet hope remains. As one Kota Kinabalu resident told me privately, 'We want to believe in the government again – show us that through 13MP.' The 13MP is an opportunity for a national reset – not just in terms of physical development, but in reshaping our socioeconomic policies to match the people's living realities. This plan must adopt a people-centric approach that leverages local data, expands inclusive monitoring systems, and places trust in communities to lead local development initiatives. Earlier this week, I was invited to deliver the keynote address at a roundtable hosted by the Institute of Social Malaysia (ISM) to chart its future strategic direction. I began by painting a picture of Malaysia in 2050. To plan effectively for the future, we must anticipate the challenges ahead. This is why foresight and scenario planning are essential, along with leveraging local data and inclusive monitoring systems. I proposed that ISM take on the role of a national Social Research Institute. This ties directly to the findings of our 13MP research, which underline the need for consistent public discourse in our policy ecosystem. It also underscores the importance of a dedicated institution that continuously studies, analyses, and monitors sociopolitical changes grounded in public sentiment. One recurring observation from our townhalls was the lack of community-based development planning, particularly in public housing areas. In rural areas, school facilities are often inadequate, while in urban zones, schools may lack basic amenities like fields for physical education. Taken together, these findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen people-centric approaches in national development planning and policy implementation. The townhalls have clearly captured both the aspirations and constraints of everyday Malaysians – factors that must directly shape future five-year plans. The message from the ground is unequivocal: Malaysians are ready to take part in nation- building, provided they are not sidelined. The 13MP, as presented by the Prime Minister, is a plan that seeks to provide human- centric development, rebuild public trust, and return Malaysia to a path of inclusive and equitable progress. To truly redesign national development, we must listen to and reflect the pulse of the people. May the 13MP lead Malaysia towards greater prosperity and lasting success. Datuk Dr Anis Yusal Yusoff is the executive director of the International Institute of Public Policy and Management, Universiti Malaya. He was formerly the president and CEO of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Diplomacy and the honest broker
IT was a triumphant moment for Malaysia on Monday after a ceasefire deal between Cambodia and Thailand was reached. Accolades came from all over the world as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the deal before clasping the hands of his Cambodian and Thai counterparts in front of the world's press and on live TV. What many are unaware of is that there had been a behind-the-scenes and very hush-hush meeting that took place a few weeks before this diplomatic breakthrough hosted by Anwar. Looking back, this incident reflects the Asean way of dealing with issues: with a lot of respect and much tact among all parties involved. The meeting would not have taken place if the two countries had not trusted Malaysia. At one point, cold feet could have derailed everything had it not been for Malaysia treating the matter with a lot of sensitivity and understanding. It was during the 58th Asean Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur in early July that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, concerned by developments at Thai-Cambodian borders, decided to approach his two counterparts, Thailand's Maris Sangiampongsa and Cambodia's Prak Sokhonn. The simmering dispute had already killed dozens of people and displaced more than 270,000 from both sides of the border. 'As a neighbour and Chair of Asean, I don't want to see my two good friends not talking to each other and felt it was my duty to put them together in the same room. It is as simple as that,' Mohamad told this columnist. 'I told them, let's have coffee in my room and put our heads together. They came and left through different doors. 'Such a meeting needs to be conducted away from others, we had to keep it quiet because we had to be really sensitive about a very fragile situation. 'They needed to inform their leaders afterwards. Both of them expressed their appreciation for our initiative. 'That started the ball rolling for the leaders' meeting in Malaysia on Monday,' Mohamad added. Anwar was briefed every step of the way. Following the foreign ministers' meeting, it was Anwar's turn to convince Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to come to Malaysia, urging them to find a peaceful solution and agree to a ceasefire. One officer said the diplomatic effort is best described as Malaysia being an honest broker: 'Malaysia has no hidden agenda in doing this work. Both parties know this. 'Tok Mat is a blunt and straight-talking person. He met them privately and made them feel comfortable. There is trust, and protecting the trust in the whole process. 'This is the way we deal with issues. It is like you deal with your family members. You don't shame them out there, you deal with the issues in the privacy and comfort of your own environment, behind closed doors. 'The most important thing is to make everybody feel comfortable so that they have trust in Malay-sia. This is our strength. They want to keep it within the family because they trust us and we can be an honest broker unlike any other parties,' said the official. Anwar also made full use of his own channel of communications with the two leaders and consulted other Asean leaders in the past weeks. 'Malaysia is close to Cambodia and Thailand. The Prime Minister has a direct communications advantage and, of course, Malay-sia is the current Asean Chair. 'Without his personal intervention and his leadership, the meeting might not have taken place. He did his homework and also did not sideline other Asean leaders,' said another diplomat. Wisma Putra and other agencies were working behind closed doors in preparation for last Monday's meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence, Seri Perdana. The Cambodian and Thai leaders were ushered into the meeting room. China and the US sent representatives too. The presence of the envoys from the two superpowers called for a delicate diplomatic balancing act in managing relations. Malaysia and Asean could not ignore US President Donald Trump's role in calling for the two sides to end the conflict – Trump said he told the two leaders that negotiations to reduce tariffs would not proceed until 'the fighting stops'. And China was there because it is Asean's immediate neighbour and plays an important role in this region where Asean needs to be neutral. Initially the US wanted to co-host the meeting but the Malaysian government was firm in only allowing the US to be the co-organiser instead. The official joint statement clearly indicated the meeting was co-organised by the US with the active participation of China 'to promote a peaceful resolution to the ongoing situation'. Their representatives were invited to speak and gave short statements. The mood at the meeting was conciliatory. Everybody was on the same page. Through their statements it was obvious the Cambodian and Thai leaders wanted the conflict to end. Both countries were losing economically as tourism numbers and border trade declined. 'They had the desire to end it, and those were the vibes as they entered the room. The whole world was watching them and they knew they needed to show some positive development,' said an observer. What's next? The General Border Committee (GBC) meeting, initially to take place in Phnom Penh, is set to convene in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. Mohamad said the ceasefire modality must be decided quickly. Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore have agreed to participate as military observers. 'This will be Asean-led. We are not sending troops but we will have observers at the borders,' he explained. The Malaysian Armed Forces issued a statement yesterday saying that the GBC meeting will take place between Aug 4 and 7. 'Malaysia is the neutral venue chosen mutually by Thailand and Cambodia. The terms of reference for the deployment of defence attaches as the interim team and the deployment of an Asean monitoring group will be part of the GBC's agenda,' said the statement. Malaysia, of course, wants this meeting to be successful, bearing in mind its responsibility as Asean Chair. It will be a long-drawn out process as mediating a protracted border dispute is always a delicate matter. Malaysia is recognised as a good broker and has experience in resolving and mediating conflicts in the past, such as in the southern regions of the Philippines and Thailand. It is now leveraging its diplomatic ties to facilitate dialogues to ensure the region remains peaceful. This is not about who gets nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. It is about achieving peace in the region and saving the lives of innocent people.
Borneo Post
3 hours ago
- Borneo Post
A political move that backfired
The Parliament of Malaysia – the only place where an incumbent Prime Minister may legally be voted out of office. — Bernama photo MANY Malaysian politicians are being innovative for the wrong reason. In Peninsular Malaysia, for instance, within the past 10 years, they have made political moves in order to acquire power and authority fast by devising stratagems such as 'tebuk atap' (by punching a hole in the roof) or 'masuk pintu belakang' (back-door entry). To make their schemes look like being constitutional, they used the Statutory Declaration to influence the legislators. Legislators were made to swear on a piece of paper to support the appointment of the candidate for premiership, cocksure that the King would agree to their proposal without question. Another device On July 26 this year, a new device for toppling an elected government was tried out. Opposition politicians used a gathering of thousands of party supporters at one spot in Kuala Lumpur and regarded the size of the crowd, real or bloated manifolds, as the sole criterion with which to convince the public at large and, in particular the supporters of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, should step down as Prime Minister without delay. However, one glaring flaw of this version of a coup d'état was that the organisers were not able to name a member of Parliament as the PM-designate during the rally, or soon after. It did not look like they had agreed beforehand that one MP from their group would be their nominee for the post. It has been a week now since the 'Turun Anwar' rally was held. At the time of writing this article, there has been no inkling that the incumbent PM has planned to call a press conference during which he would announce his resignation. Then one is tempted to wonder if the rally of 500,000 participants (some estimates say only 18,000 at most), had really achieved what its organisers had planned. To me, it begins to look like that this stratagem of mob rule has been counter-productive or ineffective in terms of forcing the incumbent Prime Minister to throw in the towels. Anwar's opponents have made him a martyr! Political crisis? Seeing in the social media and hearing from friends in Kuala Lumpur about the political fights for hegemony among the Malay politicians, many people in Sarawak I talked to are concerned about the eruption of a political crisis, and consequentially, of the possible side-effects of the political rifts in the peninsula. Those Sarawakians supporting the Unity Government and acknowledging the leadership of PM Anwar as the Chief Executive of the Unity Government, have a stake in that government. Resignation of the Prime Minister may be followed by the resignations of the other members of his Cabinet. The prospects of a full-blown political crisis are real; such crisis at this juncture will do more harm than good to the Federation. The Sarawakians in the Cabinet, in the Senate and in Parliament (as ordinary back–benchers) are from a coalition of parties, which had enabled the formation of the Unity Government a couple of years ago. I don't think they would undo what they had helped build. Instead, I think they would like to continue serving under it until the end of its term. There is law governing the elections of legislators and the appointment of the Prime Minister. Why ignore all these? Should the Federal Government collapse consequent upon the loss of the majority of seats in Parliament, the parliamentarians from the coalition parties, including Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) would be in a real dilemma. Either they join the government formed by the Opposition MPs, or they turn themselves into Opposition. That would be awkward for Sarawakians. Either way, a political vacuum will be created, and that is a perfect recipe for a full-scale political problem, which we can do without. At the risk of repeating myself, I say that any political group aiming to rule this country via the public rallies to unseat the incumbent head of the government and using any scheme other than the process of elections carried out according to the relevant law, would deserve to be censored by all peace-loving people in this country. These Opposition politicians would have deserved some respectability had they done the decent thing: proposing the motion of 'No Confidence' in Anwar's leadership as the Prime Minister at the right venue: the Parliament. There, they can 'tear' him to pieces and pile heaps of the wrongdoings that the PM has allegedly done – or imagined to have done. Instead, they resorted to mass psychology now backfiring. The result: they have made Anwar a martyr! Watching all this from Borneo, it seems to me that the organisers of that rally in Kuala Lumpur did not respect the feelings of the other Malaysians, many in Peninsular Malaysia, and many more in the Borneo states. How or what they think, or how they feel about the possibility of a serious political crisis, does not seem to matter to the rally organisers. To me, such attitude is un-Malaysian! One thing that the July 26 rally organisers should have anticipated was that the supporters of the Prime Minister could also organise rallies of their own, saying: 'What they can do, we can do better!' They have the means with which to reach their supporters and the public for support by exerting influence on the main official mass media and their cyber-troopers are ready to do battle. In terms of psychological warfare, during the Communist insurgency in Malaya, the governing authorities were always in a better position than that of the guerrillas. Our rally organisers ought to learn from history. Smart, the Anwar supporters have not resorted to holding rallies of their own. No need for these. The opponents of your Boss have made him a martyr! Do they not realise that the other Malaysians in the Boneo states are watching the intense politicking there with a growing concern? I note that this political rivalry in the early days of Malaysia and now, after so many years in Malaysia, the rivalry is still as intense as it was 60 years ago. What's happening, and why? The intense competition for political hegemony in Peninsular Malaysia does not bode well for the Malaysians in the Borneo states. Please stop me from elaborating. Before I finish this, I saw something disgusting on social media: the scene of an image that resembled Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, being flogged in public! I think that any group of politicians aspiring to rule the Federation in the future and using this method of punishment, can forget about looking at Sarawak for help to form a federal government. To describe the act as being 'inhuman' is almost generous! * The opinions expressed in this article are the columnist's own and do not reflect the view of the newspaper. malaysia politics Sarawak tebuk atap
