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By Mihar Dias March 2025
Another day, another price increase—this time for water. Yes, the very thing we can't live without.
The Selangor state government, ever eager to lighten our wallets, has proposed a 30% water tariff hike for Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Putrajaya. https://newswav.com/A2503_4oFlzp?s=A_ToET2Yd&language=en
But wait, there's a silver lining—if you’re a data centre sucking up millions of liters for cooling servers, you get your very own "special tariff" of RM5.50 per cubic meter. How thoughtful.
Water: The New Luxury Item?
The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and water operators, under the watchful eye of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), are currently negotiating how much more the rakyat should pay for their daily showers and cooking. https://newswav.com/A2503_4oFlzp?s=A_ToET2Yd&language=en
This is all happening while data centres, which guzzle insane amounts of water, get a neatly packaged "special" rate—a clear sign of where priorities lie.
For the average Malaysian household, the revised tariffs mean paying significantly more:
• The first 20 cubic meters will now cost RM0.6843 per cubic meter (up from RM0.57).
• The next 21–35 cubic meters will cost RM1.61 (up from RM1.24).
• Anything beyond 35 cubic meters will be charged at RM3.32 (up from RM2.55). https://newswav.com/A2503_4oFlzp?s=A_ToET2Yd&language=en
A family consuming 50 cubic meters a month will see their water bill rise from RM68.25 to RM87.63—a 28% increase.
Businesses?
A small shop using 100 cubic meters a month will pay RM361.15 instead of RM277.60. And places of worship?
Well, they too will face the same 30% hike—because nothing says “Malaysia Madani” like making it costlier to perform ablutions.
The Justification: Infrastructure, or Excuses?
Air Selangor claims it needs the extra funds to cover RM3.51 billion in costs and invest in projects like the RM4 billion Sungai Rasau Water Treatment Plant.
Fair enough—water infrastructure is important. But let’s get real. Why should consumers pay for years of poor planning, mismanagement, and inefficiencies?
Kelantan residents are still digging their own wells. Kedah’s water pressure is weaker than a TikTok influencer’s apology. And let’s not even start on Sabah, where turning on the tap often results in... nothing.
Yet, the government sees fit to prioritise giving data centres a special water tariff—because, of course, AI servers need to stay cool, but Malaysians? Just drink less water.
A Data-Driven Future… for Whom?
Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad warned that AI infrastructure could drain water resources. So naturally, the solution isn’t to limit data centre's consumption but to charge them less per cubic meter than industrial users.
This way, we ensure that while Malaysians struggle to afford basic utilities, corporate tech giants enjoy discounted rates on our dwindling water supply.
Perhaps soon we’ll see “Water Subscription Plans” like Netflix—Basic, Standard, and Premium. Want clean water? Pay up. Want cold water? Extra charge. Want uninterrupted supply? That’s a VIP service.
Who Will Stop This Madness?
Water, like air, should be a basic right—not a profit-driven commodity. If the government really wants to “help the rakyat,” they should:
• Audit water operators to ensure efficiency before hiking prices.
• Regulate data centre's water consumption instead of giving them preferential treatment.
• Introduce progressive tariffs where the rich pay more, not blanket increases that burden the poor.
Until then, Malaysians are left watching yet another price hike trickle down on them—while those with power and influence sip on their tax-free Evian.
Mihar Dias is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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