Malaysia: Johor water rationing

Liow urges water concessionaire to help ease plight of the public affected
KATHLEEN ANN KILI The Star 16 Oct 15;

JOHOR BARU: State water concessionaire Syarikat Air Johor (SAJ) has been asked to review its scheduled water rationing to ease the plight of the public affected.

Johor Jaya assemblyman Liow Cai Tung said she decided to request for this after receiving numerous complaints about the matter from those affected in Pasir Gudang over the past three months.

She said SAJ should amend its current schedule for the rationing as many were not happy with it.

Maybe they can consider supplying water at least on alternate days or allow for supply in the mornings or nights, she told reporters during a press conference held outside the SAJ headquarters in Larkin here on Monday. She said SAJ had taken her suggestions into consideration in view of the fact that the water level at the Layang-layang dam was still critical.

“I have also told the concessionaire to ensure additional water supply is given to those with good reasons such as for weddings and funerals.

“I hope that the state government can resolve the problem as soon as possible, as it seems to be taken lightly with no proper solution found to resolve the issue for the past three months, she added.

Pusat Aduan Rakyat Permas zone supervisor Syed Othman Syed Abdullah said that he has also been receiving complaints on the matter for the past three months.

He said businesses such as car wash centres in his area were even more adversely affected as they were forced to buy water from outside the area.

Those living in flats have also been facing difficulties, as they do not have enough space to store sufficient water for two days, he added.

Meanwhile, SAJ corporate communication chief Jamaluddin Jamil said that the schedule for the water rationing was the best solution for the company to help consumers face the problem.

He said the existing schedule was outlined after a detailed study and monitoring was conducted in efforts to alleviate the consumers woes.

Liow’s request may only worsen the situation. After all, the rationing conducted is lesser than the 48-hours schedule, he added.