DUN SELANGOR | The rationale for delivering 25 cubic meters of free water to those in the B40 (low-income) group in Selangor from next year is that they will no longer have to worry about paying their monthly water bills.

Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the increase from 20 cubic meters to 25 cubic meters of free water was based on the average monthly consumption per household in the state.

"From the data we get, the average rate of water consumption per household in the state is about 25 to 26 cubic meters per month.

"So with the 25 cubic meters of free water that we will give from next year to the B40 group, it is quite likely that they would not have to pay for their (monthly) water bills," he said when winding up the debate on the Selangor 2019 Budget at the State Assembly sitting in Shah Alam today.

Amirudin (PKR-Sungai Tua) said that he believed the implementation of providing the free water programme would be implemented around March or April next year, to enable the state government to have detailed data on the B40 recipients.

He added that through the programme, the state government could also reduce the cost by RM100 million.

Amirudin stressed that the free water programme which was no longer available to all households as was previously enjoyed since 2008, had nothing to do with the takeover of Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash).

This was because any provision of the takeover was not used from state government money but was managed by Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor), he said.

The state budget presented on Nov 23 mentioned that the free water programme should only benefit the B40 group as it was meant to ease their burden. It also increased the amount of free water for the group from 20 cubic meters to 25 cubic meters per month.

The sitting continues tomorrow.

— Bernama