SHAH ALAM, 1 Dec: The Selangor Government has expressed its commitment to not increase the price of water although electricity charges will be increased by the Federal Government, starting 1 January 2014.

The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that the approach is taken as the government wants to help ease the people’s burdens.

“Although the Federal Government will be taking the move to increase electricity charges, the State Government has decided to not increase the price of water,” he said in a speech during a working visit to Rumah Puteri Arafiah here at Section 7.

Accompanying him was his wife, Puan Sri Salbiah Tunut, who is also the President of the Selangor Women’s Welfare and Charity Organisation (PEKAWANIS) and the Chairman of the Rumah Puteri Arafiah Board of Directors.

Also present was the Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) Administration Chief, Rohany Datuk Talib and the representative of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS), Norita Mohd Sidek, as well as the Executive Councillor in charge of Welfare, Rodziah Ismail.

Abdul Khalid said that as a caring State Government, the people should be given support in handling the issue of the increase.

“The move is taken to help the people, where we feel the people need support in this problem,” he said.

The electricity tariff will increase next year by 1 percent.

The increase will make the new price for a kilowatt 33.54 cents in Peninsular Malaysia.

Meanwhile for Sabah and Labuan, the new rate will increase by 16.9 percent or 5 cents from the current rate of 29.52 cents/kwh (kilowatt per hour) to 34.2 cents/kwh.

Previously, Abdul Khalid announced that the State Government will continue the water subsidy for the next 10 years.