Amidst tensions with Malaysia over airspace and maritime boundaries, Member of Parliament (MP) Zainal Sapari took to Facebook to recap Singapore’s water agreement with Malaysia,along with the prices at which we buy from and sell water to them.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, December 11, he wrote shared an infographic and quoted a Straits Times article saying, “Singapore pays 3 sen per thousand gallons of raw water, and sells treated water back to Johor at 50 sen per thousand gallons”.
https://www.facebook.com/ZainalBinSapari/photos/a.1530485456970331/2199509820067888/?type=3&theater
However, he continued, “it costs Singapore RM2.40 to treat every thousand gallons of water. By selling at 50 sen, Singapore is providing a subsidy of RM1.90 per thousand gallons of water”.
Mr Zainal said, “Johor sold the treated water to Johoreans at RM3.95 per thousand gallons, which amounts to RM46 million in profits a year”.
Along with his post, were hashtags he added himself. They were, “
#JustToRecap #WaterAgreement #WhyKPKB”.
‘KPKB’ is the acronym for “kao pei kao bu”, according to the Urban Dictionary. It means “cry father cry mother” in Hokkien. It is usually used in reference to those who make a fuss.
Mr Zainal explained the term to a netizen in the comments.
His post served as a learning point for many, and it got them talking about the issue of water once again.
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obbana@theindependent.sg