Rep Questions Profit As Malacca Water Company Seeks Another Tariff Hike

---

Malacca opposition chief Dr Yadzil Yaakub has slammed the state government as its water concessionaire applied for another round of tariff revision.
If the federal water regulator approves the application, he said, it would be the second year in a row that Malacca will see changes in its water tariff.
"The water tariff was already increased in 2024. Now there is another proposal for tariff review.
"What we can be sure of is that tariffs will always increase, they don't go down," the Bemban assemblyperson said on Facebook.
ADSHe attached Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad’s (SAMB) statement dated July 13, where the company confirmed it sought permission from the National Water Services Commission to revise water charges in Malacca.
According to news reports, the state water company had adjusted its tariff in February last year, which saw an average price increase of RM0.16 per cubic metre for the domestic category.
‘Only RM3m of RM61.08m debt paid in 2023’
Yadzil claimed the move was contrary to Malacca Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh's boasting of the state's economic prosperity.
Malacca Chief Minister Ab Rauf YusohThe Bersatu lawmaker said SAMB's application also does not reflect Rauf's claim that the company recorded profits in the millions in 2023 and 2024.
"The chief minister said SAMB's profit had increased from RM266 million in 2023 to RM309 million last year. SAMB was said to have recorded an RM2.62 million profit in 2023.
"(The company) had announced a spending of RM3.07 million to give out bonuses to its employees, and another RM740,000 for its board of directors, which is chaired by the chief minister.
"But as of December 2023, SAMB's accumulated debt with the state government stood at RM61.08 million, and they could only pay RM3 million that year to service that debt, which was much lower than what they were supposed to,” Yadzil claimed.
He questioned how the company recorded profits in the millions, but couldn't pay its debt, yet was still able to give bonuses.
Malaysiakini has reached out to the chief minister's office for comments. - Mkini

---