WATER supply to 80 business operators at the Kinrara Commercial Centre in Taman Kinrara Section 3, Puchong, was restored after three days when the developer paid an initial deposit of RM20,000 to Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) yesterday.
Syabas disconnected the bulk meter to restaurauts, laundry outlets, air-conditioner shops after the developer, Sentosa Restu Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Talam Corporation Berhad, failed to settle RM119,510 in bills.
Talam Corporation senior vice-president I Tan Bak Hai said the action to disconnect water supply to the business premises was harsh.
“We understand that there has been unpaid water bills but this is linked to certain matters with the Joint Maintenance Body (JMB) that was formed in 2008 but later disbanded.
“No maintenance fees is being collected except for the quit rent,” he said after meeting the operators at Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok’s service centre in Taman Kinrara.
Tan said they made an initial payment of RM20,000 to Syabas to reconnect the bulk meter with the balance to be paid in instalments.
Air-conditioner outlet operator Kuan Hong Chan, 38, claimed he did not receive any notice on the supply disconnection.
“It is unfair as in 2008, we had migrated from the bulk meter to individual meters. Most of us with the individual meters make good our payments and should not be penalised if Syabas is not able to account for the non-revenue water,” he said.
Kuan added that the bulk meter should be dismantled as business owners had been given individual ones.
“We can’t go on footing the difference between the total amount of water used at the premises and the recorded figure on the bulk meter.
Water leakages are outside the shops and this non-revenue water charges must not be plastered on us,” he said. Restaurateur Prem Mohan, 40, said he found it hard to operate his business without water.
“We are prompt with our payments and Syabas should not penalise us but resolve the matter with the developer.
“It is absurd and unethical for Syabas to get its non-revenue water dues by shutting the taps of businesses after collecting payment for the individual meters,” he said.
Kok urged the business operators to re-establish the JMB to ensure no other problems would occur. “It would be good to have the JMB as the owners would be able to resolve issues regarding utilities and even the garbage collection in the area,” she said. - The Star
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