Bills aim for transparency

REPORTS BY MERGAWATI ZULKAFAR, DEVID RAJAH, NG CHENG YEE, PARVEEN GILL , LISA GOH AND MEERA VIJAYAN  

The Government is proposing two bills to tackle the present chronic problems and to reform the water industry. The two bills are Water Services Industry Bill and the National Water Services Commission Bill. Among other things, the two Bills aim to ensure:  

CLEAN, safe and adequate water supply;

SEWERAGE systems function properly;

A STANDARD water tariff for various states;

ALL unpaid water and sewerage dues are collected;

INFRASTRUCTURE, including pipes anddams, are properly maintained; and

ALL water supply licensees have proper a business plan. 

The two bills have been posted on a government website to seek public feedback before they are tabled in Parliament on Nov 24.