originally posted on January 24, 2017

PORT KLANG, 24 Jan 2017:

A glove factory here which has been raided by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) today, is suspected of illegally siphoning water amounting to RM2.7 million.

SPAN corporate communications and consumer affairs unit senior executive Loh Pit Mui said the raid was conducted after receiving a complaint from Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd on water thefts by the factory owner.

She said the enforcement operation found the factory, which has been operating for 25 years, made two illegal connections directly from an Air Selangor main without going through the water meter.

“The supply siphoned from the connections was believed to be used for the factory’s operation.

“A chlorine test conducted at the site confirmed the water supply channeled into the premises was treated water.”

She said the offence was committed under Section 123(1) of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 and SPAN would be carrying out further  investigations.

Air Selangor corporate communications head Amin Lin Abdullah said the company began detecting illegal activities when it found the factory paid only RM4,000 a month – compared to RM50,000 a month based on Air Selangor estimates.

“Investigations found the factory has a water supply account with Air Selangor and as a result of the illegal activities, we suffered losses of about RM2.7 million for 1.2 million cubic metres of water.

“The source of supply which is connected from the Syabas main pipe measures 20m long.”

He said Air Selangor would be conducting further investigations on the extent of the factory’s illegal water activities.