VIABILITY OF PERAK WATER BOARD PRIVATIZATION

PWB PRIVATIZATION

The Perak State Government had decided that consumers in Perak will have to pay double for their water once the Perak Water Board (PWB) is privatized.

This is despite the earlier assurance given by Mentri Besar Tajol Rosli in Feb 2004 that the water tariff would not be increased after PWB’s privatization. At that time he was quoted as saying that the increase would not be more than 3-4%. However, today, he had changed his mindset and said, "the PWB’s privatization was “INEVITABLE” as it would be taxing for the board if they maintain prices."

The tariff currently is pegged at 87 sen per cubic meter and will gradually be increased by 20% upon privatization and later by 40% in 4-stages. By the end of 2022, consumers will be paying about $1.60 per cubic meter.

In Malaysia, while the government is seeking to improve the delivery system, the question arise is:

"How are they doing it?" "Is it done in such ways that the actions is such that the citizen will be made to pay for their actions?"

Every time you hear of any proposal by the government, the 'INEVITABLE" always arise - get the people to pay for it.

Instead of reviewing the system for its own inherent weaknesses and its fat overheads that was the sole cause of its own inefficiency and ineffectiveness to service the market and the people and to survive, the system managers always take the easy way out of it - increase the price; get the people to pay for it; if we are not competitve, then, get the government to impose high duties on those who are competitve, (particularly, those imported products so that the local industries can maintain a high price so that they can still remain the lowest price - of course, due to high duties and taxes on competitors).

1. Is this what we wanted of this government?
2. Is that the Government that we elected?, the one that promised so much?
3. Isn't this the Government that promise the people: "Gemilang, Cermelang dan Terbilang"? (Translate - Magnificient, Excellence and Outstanding)

The government had promised the three stated deliverables. So, what did we get?

1. Magnificient service (at an exceptionally high cost),
2. Excellently executed way (by privatization), and
3. Outstanding results (consumers pay the price).

This is Parliamentary Supremacy with delegated legislative bodies -

1. of the people (they were elected by the people),
2. for the people (poor quality services, low efficiency and low productivity); unfortunately,
3. to the people (get the prople to pay for the poor services)

What had happenned and will happen is self-induced by the people-at-large - the citizen. We can't complain. We had given the mandate to those who we elect to punish us by way of high taxes and low quality services.

All those promises during the election of:

1. Eradication of Corruption,
2. Improving the Delivery System,
3. The Government of the People, for the People;

where are they?, Mr. Prime Minister, Pak Lah????

The people are still waiting for the betterment of their lives for what was promised was -

1. better quality services,
2. competitive cost of living,
3. the supportive legislative body,
4. the efficient and effective executives, and
5. the superior performance & productive civil servants?