BARISAN Nasional Wanita chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz hit the nail on the head when she said local issues were the main priority for voters, and how they were handled would go a long way towards determining the outcome of the general election (”Voters focusing on local issues” — NST, Jan 8).

I have been a loyal supporter of the government but lately, I have been disappointed by what is happening on the local front, for example, with respect to the “Bil Hasil Tanah” issued for this year by the Selangor government.

Previously, whenever the payment was to be increased, there would be an announcement, which would be followed by objections from the public.

But now, to avoid public objection, the tactic seems to be to increase the payment without an announcement and hope the public will just pay up.

There is an increase of RM5 from RM45 last year to RM50, but we are not aware of the rationale for this.

Of course, it is only RM5, but it is the principle of the matter that people are concerned about. Not too long ago, it was only RM30.

Another “local issue” is the way Syabas seems to have passed on its responsibilities to private companies.

I own an apartment in Putra Perdana where, in spite of owners having individual water meters, a subsidiary of the developer would send water bills with a minimum charge of RM6 per month, just like Syabas does.

Recently, the minimum rate was set at RM12 per month, which is twice the amount charged by Syabas in Subang Jaya where I live.

My apartment is unoccupied, so why is the developer arbitrarily imposing this new rate?

Even in Subang Jaya, I pay the minimum rate of RM6 a month as I do not use much water.

Early last year, when my niece occupied the Putra Perdana apartment, the water supply to the whole block was shut down twice by the developer because some absentee owners/tenants had not settled their bills. In other words, even those owners/tenants who had paid their bills were punished.

If the developer cannot collect payments from recalcitrant owners/tenants, then Syabas should just take over.

Since each apartment has its own water meter, Syabas can disconnect the supply until the culprits pay up.

I think it is time for Syabas to deal with the developer and stop upsetting its customers.

A.M. NORAN, Subang Jaya, Selangor

Source: NST – January 10, 2008