Johoreans, who are already paying one of the priciest water tariff rates in the country, are expected to fork out more effective tomorrow.

The announcement was made by the Water Services Commission (Span) today after receiving a request from Johor water operator SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Span said in a statement today it forwarded SAJ Holding's proposal for the hike to the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, which was subsequently approved.

Under the new rate, domestic users would pay RM0.80 per cubic metre for the first 20 cubic metre, followed by RM2.00 per cubic metre for the next 15 cubic metres and RM3.00 per cubic metre for subsequent usage.

For non-domestic usage, the charge would be RM2.80 per cubic metre for the first 35 cubic metres and RM3.30 per cubic metre for subsequent usage.

"A total of 78.3 percent (108,920 accounts) which water usage is under 35 cubic metres will experience a bill hike of RM4.00 to RM7.00 a month," it said.

In an immediate response, Johor PKR deputy chairperson Jimmy Puah slammed the hike as "unacceptable".

"The increase means the domestic water tariff rate would effectively be raised from  RM1.05 per cubic metre to RM1.31 per cubic metre for the first 35 cubic metres, an increase of 25 percent.

"Johor already topped the unwanted ranking of highest water tariff rate in Malaysia before the increment; a whopping 328 percent more than the cheapest water in Malaysia in Penang which only cost RM0.32 for the corresponding volume," said Puah, who is also Bukit Batu state assemblyperson.

Puah, in a statement, said the Johor government failed to protect the interest of the rakyat, particularly at a time when they are burdened by the newly introduced Goods and Services Tax.

"Furthermore, the corresponding increase in non-domestic water tariff will also cause higher production cost which will ultimately be transferred to the consumer leading to higher living cost," he said.

He urged Span and the Johor government to reverse the hike.