Is CAT 'Corruption, Arrogance, Transgression'?
The Pakatan Rakyat governments of Selangor and Penang seem to be acting diametrically opposite on the water tariff increases despite the coalition's common policy framework, Parti Cinta Malaysia says.
The Pakatan Rakyat governments of Selangor and Penang seem to be acting diametrically opposite on the water tariff increases despite the coalition's common policy framework, Parti Cinta Malaysia says.
PCM Youth chief Liew Yeow Hooi said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang chairperson, had not only accepted the price hike, but increased it by 27 percent.
"To say that 27 percent will only affect about 30 percent of the Penang residents is uncalled for," said Liew (left).
"It is common sense that any increase in the prices of basic necessities, such as water and energy, will lead to a chain reaction that will increase production costs and burden the people, who are most afraid of such price increases," he added.
Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and his government have opposed the water tariff hikes by the privatised state water concessionaire Syabas, which Pakatan leaders said was burdening the rakyat.
The Selangor state government last Sunday organised a protest in Kuala Lumpur to hand over a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara.
Police fired tear gas and chemical-laced water on the protesters and at least 48 people were arrested hat day for illegal assembly.
Liew said Lim should take heed of the pressures faced by the low-income group.
"Those sitting in the comfort of their chairs in the Penang government leadership will not understand the hardships the poor face," he said.
"We hope they will be answer our question: Why the double standard in the water policies of the Selangor and Penang governments?"
Extended parking hours another burden
Further, Liew said, Penangites were also being burdened with with the extension of of car parking charges up to midnight.
He said the decision of the local councils to extend parking fee payment hours so as to "eliminate illegal parking attendants"could not be justified.
The actions of the Penang government were not reflective of its CAT or Competency, Accountability, Transparency governance.
The state must answer, Liew added, as to whether the higher water tariffs and longer hours of parking fee collection were consistent with the people's aspirations and with its CAT slogan.
"We hope CAT will not come to mean Corruption, Arrogance, Transgression."
