Reply to Menteri Besar of Kedah - Please Focus On The Issue And Give Assurance to Kedahans That Water Tariff Will Not Be Increased For Next 10 years

1. In my press conference yesterday, I have mentioned that the state is going to corporatise the water supply department and to be known as Syarikat Air Darul Aman. I have not mentioned anything about privatization, which is totally different from corporatisation. Thus, I have no idea why Menteri Besar keep on talking about privatization, which is reported in a few local newspaper today.

2. There is also no mention about government will increase the water tariff. Instead, I have said after the corporatisation, there is a lot of Kedahans who are worried that the water tariff may be increased.

3. In any event, the issue that had been raised is “the PAS-led state government must give an assurance to Kedahans that the water tariff will not be increased after the corporatisation” so that Kedahans will not be burden. This is in line with the Pakatan Rakyat Common Policies which was announced recently and should be implemented at Pakatan Rakyat led states (unless PAS is above Pakatan Rakyat).

4. If there is no intention by the PAS-led state government to increase the water tariff after the corporatisation, then I would like to ask the Menteri Besar of Kedah WHY THE PAS-LED KEDAH STATE GOVERNMENT CANNOT GIVE ASSURANCE OR GUARANTEE TO KEDAHANS THAT THE WATER TARIFF WILL NOT BE INCREASED AFTER THE CORPORATISATION.

5. The PAS-led Kedah state government should give an assurance that Syarikat Air Darul Aman (SADA) will not increase the water tariff in the next 10 years.

6. On the statement by MB Kedah requesting me to investigate a company known as “Teleworks”, I would say that there is no such need. MB Kedah should just focus on the issue of giving assurance to the people that the water tariff will not be increased after the corporatisation.