NILAI: The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) has raided 76 premises in Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Johor, Perak, and Melaka, for committing various offences including stealing water through illegal pipe connections throughout last year.
SPAN Corporate Communications and Consumer Affairs director Mohd Fazil Ismail said that of the total, 97 compounds were issued, amounting to RM232,000, and 22 cases were prosecuted.
”Among the affected premises are commercial establishments, construction sites, livestock farms, and gardens.
The integrated raid was conducted with the cooperation of various utility companies, including Syarikat Water Negeri Sembilan (SAINS), Air Selangor, and Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd.
"I believe the number of these raids has increased compared to last year following the establishment of the SPAN Crime Prevention Unit, which saw more enforcement activities being carried out, besides information channelled by the public,” he told reporters at the raid site in Mantin on Wednesday (Jan 18).
He said two cattle and goat farms were raided today because they were found to be making illegal water connections from SAINS using a 25-millimetre HDPE pipe.
Mohd Fazil said the two farms, owned by locals in their 30s and 40s, are believed to use the water supply for their farms’ daily operations.
He said investigations also found that both premises did not have valid water supply accounts registered with SAINS, and the offence was committed under Section 123(1) of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655).
"Based on the structure of the house and the conditions here, we believe they have been in operation for more than a year. The two owners probably fled during the raid,” he said. - Bernama
