Free water policy not effective in managing water - Bee Yin

A DAP assemblyman wants the Selangor government to review its provision of free water to the people saying it was not relevant under the current water rationing carried out in several areas in the state.

Yeo Bee Yin (DAP-Damansara Utama) said the free water gift was only seen from a populist policy but it was not the most prudent as well as efficient way to manage water in Selangor.

She said the state government spent almost RM1 billion to finance the free water gesture since it was launched in 2008 when in fact the fund should be invested into capital expenditure to reduce the rate of non-revenue water (NRW) at 35 per cent.

"Reducing NRW will reduce demand for raw water, save money through lower cost of treatment and distribution of water apart from better control of water tariffs," she said when debating the state's 2014 Supplementary Supply Bill at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here on Monday.

Yeo said, if four years ago, the state government spent its capital expenditure to build more Hybrid Off River Augmentatiom System (Horas) projects, she believed the problem of water shortage may not have taken place.

"I hope the state government will review the need to commit seven per cent of the annual state revenue to fund free water," she said.

"We should give priority to ensure water supply to the people before considering giving free water," she said.

Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim when winding debate on the Bill said the state government would be making a decision soon on whether to extend water rationing in the state as the water levels at several dams had risen.

The water rationing plan which began on March 2 involves six districts namely Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor and Hulu Selangor.

The assembly sits again on Tuesday.