The Star : 16 October 2006 

Klang Valley residents want water quality to be improved to justify the hike in the water tariffs. 

Most of them also said that there was no justification for a water tariff hike while “brownish” water still flowed from their taps.

Restaurateur Lim Hua Siong, 49, wants the Government to get Syabas to provide clean water to the taps before the tariffs can be imposed. 

“If we are going to pay higher tariffs, then the firm that treats and supplies the water must justify their hike with clean water,” he said. 

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Housewife Ros Yatinah, 34, said there was a need to improve water quality.  

“In recent months I've had to do the laundry twice over due to dirty water supply,” said the Puchong resident, explaining that her clothes have been stained as a result of unclean water flowing directly to her washing machine.  

“My neighbours also have the same problem. I believe traders everywhere too might be facing the same dilemma,” said Ros, adding that food operators must ensure the water used was clean. 

Architect Daniel Lim, 31, of Kelana Jaya had to depend on water filters.  

“My wife and I moved here 10 months ago and have spent over RM100 just to install basic water filters. With my newborn baby, I can’t risk having contaminated water,” he said.  

Klang Consumer Association president A. Devadass said the consumers had a right to clean water. 

“Consumers are paying for clean water and not for murky water,” he said.  

On Saturday, Water, Energy and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik said that water tariffs would go up by 15% for Klang Valley consumers who use more than 35 cubic metres per month. 

For consumers who use more than 20 cubic metres a month but less than 35, the tariff increase is 6%. 

Syabas chief operation officer Datuk Lee Miang Koi said they had been working hard to improve the water quality for consumers, including setting up the 24-hour toll free Puspel hotline. 

“We have always tried to improve the water quality since we took over from PUAS on Jan 1, 2005. 

“Among our efforts are replacing old pipes, reducing non-revenue water and improving the monitoring of water quality and equipment,” he told reporters before a dialogue with Bandar Sri Permaisuri residents here yesterday.