Liang: Penang CM not transparent about state’s water rates

PETALING JAYA: The Penang Chief Minister was not transparent about the state’s purported request to increase water rates, said Gerakan.

Its secretary-general Datuk Liang Teck Meng (pix) claimed that Lim Guan Eng continued to divert the issue although it had been three weeks since he was challenged to reveal a December 2016 letter seeking to implement large increases in the island’s water rates.

The letter in question came from the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) and was addressed to the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), of which Liang is the chairman.

“Lim forgot that he started all this when he defamed me by saying that I had signalled that the Federal Government was the one forcing Penang to raise water rates,” claimed Liang, who is also the Simpang Renggam MP.

He added that it was nonsensical for Lim to suggest that he concentrate on water rates in Johor, where his constituency is located, as the state had not asked for water hikes multiple times in the last seven years.

“Neither did the Johor government claim false credit over the reduction of state debt like Penang did when it was due to the Federal Government that was responsible for reducing Penang's state debt by 95%.”

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, allegedly accused Liang last week of violating secrecy laws and being unprofessional in revealing Penang’s application to raise water rates.

The Chief Minister also claimed that the request to SPAN was subsequently withdrawn this February.