THE STAR | FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2008

PUTRAJAYA: Five states that have yet to corporatise their water supply departments are expected to do so by the end of the year.

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said Kedah, Perlis, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Pahang had consented to the terms of the corporatisation and that it was just a matter of time before it was finalised.

He did not anticipate problems from Perak and Kedah which are governed by Pakatan Rakyat as they had agreed in principle to the move.

The National Water Services Commission (Span), he said, had played a role in getting state governments to agree to corporatising their water supply departments.

He said state governments should not misconstrue corporatisation for privatisation, adding that corporatisation allowed Span to monitor the body and make it more efficient.

Any increase in water tariffs by states, he said, would also have to be approved by Span after the body audited and evaluated the financial status of the state and its expenditures.