By Ling Hui
KUCHING, July 16: All water consumers in Sarawak are eligible for water bill discounts from April 1 to September 30 to reduce the people’s financial burden amid the Covid-19 pandemic, said Minister of Utilities Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
The bill discounts are on top of the RM5 free water from January 1 under the Sarawakku Sayang Special Aid Package.
Dr Rundi, in a press release today, said that 25 per cent discount could be enjoyed by households with domestic accounts, 15 per cent discount for domestic and commercial consumers, and 10 per cent for industrial consumers.
He ascertained that the RM5 free water programme and now the water bill discounts are initiatives by the Sarawak government to reduce the financial burden of the people, especially the rural communities in the state amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The cost of free water to the Sarawak government is about RM40 million per year.
“Besides, the water bill discounts given by the government is expected to cost about RM25.26 million and will benefit about 570,000 consumers throughout Sarawak,” said Dr Rundi.
He reiterated that the discounts were one of the 16 proactive measures under the Sarawakku Sayang Special Aid Package announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg in March this year to help Sarawakians through difficult times during the pandemic.
“The Ministry of Utilities will continue to work with all water supply agencies, namely Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), Kuching Water Board (KWB), Sibu Water Board (SWB) and Laku Management Sdn Bhd to ensure that Sarawak and its people have access to 100 per cent coverage of reliable, quality, efficient, and affordable utilities by 2025,” he added. —DayakDaily
