I take great offence at Lim Guan Eng's statement where he accused me of giving a sign that the federal government wants Penang to increase its water rates in line with other states.

This is pure slander on me by the Chief Minister.

I now challenge him to give us permission to reveal the application letter from the Perbandan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBA) to Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (Span) dated 23 December 2016 detailing that the Penang Govt had approved a request for an increase of Penang water tariffs.

This letter will prove who is the real party who wants to implement a broad and big increases in water rates across the board separate from a water conservation surcharge for both domestic and business users in Penang.

You will also find if it is true that this planned increase is aimed to collect more than an RM150mil more per year from the Penang Rakyat and businesses in order to save PBA from running into losses due to big jumps in spending.

Do not slander me or try to put the blame on me when it is your side who is the guilty party instead.

I also remind the Chief Minister that even before DAP came into power, Penang already had the lowest water rates and the lowest non-revenue water rates in the country.

It is a big credit to the previous BN Penang government that in spite of 4 increases in water rates by the current DAP Penang Government since the year 2010 that the domestic water rates in Penang still remained the lowest in the country.

LIANG TECK MENG is Gerakan's Simpang Renggam MP and Span chairperson.

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