Johor charges inconsistent rates for raw water

MALACCA pays 10 times more than Singapore to buy raw water from Johor, according to the 2008 Auditor-General’s Report on Johor.

The report showed that Malacca paid 30 sen for each 3,785.4 litres (1,000 gallons) of raw water supplied from Sungai Muar in Johor. This was agreed upon in 1991 and Johor has a contract to supply water to Malacca till 2090.

Meanwhile, the Singapore government paid a mere three cents per 3,785.4 litres of raw water supplied from Sungai Skudai, Sungai Tebrau, Sungai Johor and Gunung Pulai. This agreement was inked in 1961 and 1962.


“In the audit’s opinion, the raw water rates are inconsistently implemented because the Singapore Public Utilities is paying a very low price compared to the Malacca government.

“Concurrently, one of the three Johor government’s water treatment plant concessionaires, SAJ Holding Sdn Bhd, was also not imposed any charges,” it said.

The supply of raw water in Johor is obtained from the state’s rivers and dams which are managed by Badan Kawal Selia Air Johor.

The report also showed that all 48 water treatment plants in Johor have yet to be billed for the supply of raw water as the rates were still being negotiated.

“The failure to impose any charges is a loss to the state government’s revenue as the income could be used to pay for the conservation, monitoring and enforcement of raw water supply,” it said.

Meanwhile, a lack of action has caused the source of Sungai Padas in Beaufort district of Sabah to be polluted with various bacteria and base metals, including manganese, iron and E.coli.

The 2008 Auditor-General’s Report said visits to the water sources and water treatment plants along the river revealed that the health risk posed by the high pollutant contents was caused by a lack of enforcement by the land office in the areas.

It said Health Ministry studies had found that concentrations of E.coli, total coliform, iron and turbidity had all increased over acceptable levels between 2006 and 2008.

The ministry recorded that total coliform levels reached 24,000 most probable number (mpn) per 100ml from an acceptable 5,000mpn; E.coli at 5,420 to 16,090mpn per 100ml from 5,000mpn; and iron traces up to 17mg per litre over the acceptable one mg per litre.

“Unless action is taken, raw water quality will continue to be compromised and endanger the health of residents,” it said in the report released on Monday.

The A-G also found that commercial activities in rivers and riverbanks have not been approved by the Beaufort land revenue officer.