KUALA LUMPUR: Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations has urged the National Water Services Commission (Span) to amend the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) to ensure utility companies compensate consumers for prolonged supply disruptions.
Its president Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason said Malaysia should emulate several other countries, particularly the United Kingdom, which have laws favouring consumers' interests, with customers receiving rebates due to supply disruptions.
"In the UK, if there is a disruption exceeding 24 hours, consumers will receive compensation through rebates in their respective bills.
"However, until today, the act in our country does not give consumers the right to sue (take legal action).
"Instead, (in Malaysia) consumers can only take action by bringing the issue to the consumer tribunal, but there is no guarantee that it will favour them," he told Berita Harian.
Yesterday, Span said Air Selangor, as the water supply service operator for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya, had stopped the water supply to consumers following odour pollution detected in Sungai Kundang and Sungai Sembah.
Span said aside from monitoring, it acted based on Section 55 of the Water Services Industry Act 2006, whereby Air Selangor, as the water supply service operator, has the responsibility to stop the supply to consumers if it is found to be unsafe for the public or poses a health risk.
Failure to do so would result in Air Selangor committing an offence, as continuing the supply is believed to risk public health, specifically consumers receiving supply from the related water treatment plants.
Meanwhile, Marimuthu said that in addressing water disruption issues, all three parties, namely Span, Air Selangor, and the Selangor Water Management Authority, should not blame each other as the problem has persisted for over 20 years.
"Ultimately, it is the consumers who bear the brunt. When odour pollution occurs, water plants are closed for days, and the community faces hardships due to supply disruptions.
"Consumers affected by the ordeal should be compensated, and Air Selangor's excuse of not having enough water tankers is unacceptable as the solution is its responsibility," he said.