Defer water rate increase
The Star 7/11/2006 By K.W. MAK

PETALING JAYA: The All PJ Pro-Action Committee (APPAC) wants the water tariff increase be deferred and the people to be consulted first.

“APPAC feels that the increase in the water tariff is not enforceable without consulting the consumers. We would make this known to the Syabas management and the Water, Energy and Communications Ministry,” said its chairman Edward Lee.

The demand is supported by 39 condominium and apartment associations from all over the Klang Valley that are affected by the water tariff increase.

Most condominiums have bulk meters, which would be charged RM1.38 per cubic metre under the new rates. Previously it was RM1.20 per cubic metre.

The statement was made at the inaugural meeting of the APPAC condominium, apartment and high-rise sub-committee. It was formed to collate and present all the problems faced by residents living in such dwellings to the relevant authorities.

The condominium owners said it was unreasonable for Syabas to suggest fixing individual meters as a solution to enable condominium owners to have the cheaper rates.

“The solution requires the management companies to agree to the installation, but it is unlikely and not in their interest to do so because they use it (water supply) as a leverage to get residents to pay the management fees,” said Istara Condominium Residents Association vice-chairman Tengku Nazaruddin Zainuddin.

Keshminder Singh, who represented several low-cost flat residents in Kota Damansara, said the management company there had cut off water supply to the residents during Ramadan, as many of them could not afford to pay their management fees.

Other issues discussed during the meeting included who would pay for the new meters and the water use in the common area, and who would maintain the water pumps and pipes should the owners pay their bills directly to Syabas and not their management companies.

Besides the 39 condominiums, APPAC also represents 46 residents associations and Rukun Tetangga and 22 non-government organisations.