PETALING JAYA, 25 Apr: The Selangor Water Supply Company (Syabas), in cooperation with the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), raided a water theft operation at a landscape and nursery area here at Tropicana Selatan.

The inspection showed that there were metre poles in front of a koi fish sales premises when false metres not registered with Syabas used as for illegal extension of water supply.

The Syabas Executive Director of project and Non-Revenue Water (NRW), Yusuf Badawi, when met by the media, said that the water theft was detected based on intelligence and inspection by their department since two weeks ago.

“If convicted under the laws of Section 123 (1) and Section 123 (3) of the Water Industry Act 2006, there will be a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or imprisonment of less than a year, or both.

“Following this raid, Syabas estimates that the loss of treated water used illegally, amounting to less than 16,800 cubic metres (m³), with an estimated value of less than RM80,000,” he said.

He said since January to 22 April 2014, Syabas recorded 1,056 complaints received on water theft or illegal water supply connection.

“Hopefully, this will provide a useful lesson to everyone to not commit offenses like this.

“We welcome cooperation from the public to report to combat such activities by reporting to Syabas,” he said.