Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email I thought Khalil’s plan will fall flat, especially when Syabas said they could not come to an agreement regarding the payment period. However, in the last one day, the Selangor government, through Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) has managed to successfully negotiate a longer payment period.
Even though the free water plan is starting from June 16 and will be reflected from next month’s bill onwards, nonetheless its been successfully pulled off by Pakatan government. But for how long it can be sustained is a question mark. The subsidy is expected to cost RM1.1 million per month for 20 cubic metre per household (according to Malaysiakini). However, NST reports that its going to cost a whopping RM10.8 million per month! The Star provided its own figure of RM1.8 million per month. Looks like 3 parties with three different figures.
There are arguments that providing free water will make people more wasteful and less concerned about conserving water. Anything free won’t be appreciated easily.
What do you think?
In the past people might not have appreciated the free water. But in the midst of fuel price hike, this move sure will lessen their burden. 😉
agreed bro..
You guys know what is the long term implication of this free water ? Perhaps you should look and dig deeper into this to know the reasons behind it. Knowing Khalid Ibrahim’s track record, perhaps people should be more cautious.
would you mind to share with us the long term implication and reasons behind the free water, killer? i m interested to know. tq
At first I had dismissed this as another populist decision by Tan Sri Khalid. But that he pursued his matter passionately and in fact concluded this deal by end of June really surprised me. This is because there are many more urgent and pressing matters that yet to be addressed. The fact that Khalid refused to get involved and solve the Cheras BMC issue but so managed speedily to push this free water scheme raised my curiosity.
First of all, there is a lot of complains from the NGOs on this scheme because free water would result in more wastages of the scarce water supply. Selangor already faces problem in getting its supply and by this scheme, people will be more wasteful with water usage.
Secondly, wouldn’t the money spend better spend on more important things like education, poverty eradication,etc. For most people, the water bill is of least concern.
Thirdly, there is no transparency on the details of the deal. The fact that there were numerous different data provided on the compensation shows that clearly someone is trying to keep the deal behind a veil of secrecy.
But the most serious is the last issue. Many people belief that the free water is just an excuse and a smoke screen to Khalid’s real plan, that’s to “unprivatise” the water assets of the state.
It was estimated by some analysts that it would cost almost Rm 2 Billion for the state govt to buy back the companies. And where do you think the money will come from ? It will be out of your and my pockets.
What will happen is that eventually we will end up paying more for other things like assessment,etc. And that’s not all. The company itself unlikely to make much money due to this “free water” scheme and will bleed to death and losing more of our money.
Also, we will benefit from all these plans ? Certainly not you and me. The biggest winners would be the shareholders of these water companies who would make a tidy sum from the sale of their shares to the state govt. Who are the people behind these companies ? Well, I will leave it to you to guess.
If we recall, the state water companies were privatised due poor management of water resources and lack of investments that caused us receiving “chocolate water” due to old pipes. So, this is going to re-create the same old problem again.
And one day, I might share the real story of Tan Sri Khalid in another thread.
so u mean, Khir Toyo’s government was better in dealing with “water”…
http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_709c49bc-cb73c03a-18992130-b6ecd088
Sorry guys, it should be Rm 12 Billion to buy back all assets.
which is worthful ? free water for people or million dollar private jet for ministers personal use ?
I smell fishy when someone cirticise a 100day old gov versus those pathatic rotten 50yr old corrupt gomen …..
Let the people decide !