KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari has urged the federal government to consider removing or lowering import duties and Sales and Service Tax (SST) rates on strategic technology and equipment that can help reduce non-revenue water (NRW).
The Gombak MP said that while equipment like smart meters have proven effective in reducing NRW, procuring such technology is very costly due to government tax.
“For instance, a smart meter costs around RM300 to RM350 before tax, but due to taxation, the price increases to around RM500 to RM600,” he said when debating Budget 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat here today.
“I would like to propose the government review certain strategic equipment such as smart meters, valves, and other NRW-related components, and consider removing or reducing import duties and SST on them.
“I believe this will help water service providers operate more efficiently, reduce overall water treatment costs through lower NRW, and ensure continuous 24-hour water supply.”
NRW is water lost in a distribution system before reaching consumers.
Amirudin said the pilot use of smart meters in several areas in Selangor has shown tremendous results, with the NRW rate in Bukit Jelutong, for instance, dropping from 27 per cent to around 8 per cent.
“If applied properly and on a larger scale, this approach could yield remarkable results.”
He said this is particularly crucial as several states in Malaysia continue to record high NRW levels of between 40 and 50 per cent.
“Imagine, for every litre of water treated at high cost, up to 50 per cent is lost due to pipe leaks and inefficient systems,” Amirudin added.
Selangor’s NRW level is currently around 27 per cent, the second-lowest after Johor’s 25 per cent.
