Ipoh: The Perak government is prepared to submit a proposal to the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) to reclassify tahfiz centres under a different category for water service tariff, following complaints of rising monthly water bills at the centres. State Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin highlighted that the power to amend or set water service tariffs lies with the relevant minister, based on recommendations made by SPAN.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the implementation of the water supply rate adjustment under the Water Services Industry (Rates for Water Supply Services) (State of Perak) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, Second Schedule (Regulation 3), categorizes tahfiz centres uniformly across Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan under the ‘School’ category with Non-Domestic Usage Type, subject to tariff code 21. Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin stated that the state government acknowledges the proposal to reclassify water tariffs for tahfiz centres and is prepared to submit it to SPAN for consideration.

On April 18, Selama assemblyman Mohd Akmal Kamarudin urged the state government to engage with tahfiz school administrators statewide following the water tariff code revision by the Perak Water Board, which has impacted these institutions. He noted that the shift from tariff code 41, which covered houses of worship and charitable institutions, to code 21, a non-domestic category, has imposed a financial strain on tahfiz management.

The adjustment in tariff code has reportedly led to a monthly water bill increase ranging from RM500 to RM1,000.