SEREMBAN: Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan (SAINS) is in no position to waive the bill or offer rebates to flood victims in the state as it had also incurred huge losses, says Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.

       Aminuddin, who was also SAINS chairman, said several of the state water concessionaire's treatment plants were submerged during the floods and the cost to repair them was high.

       "Some of these plants are not even back operating at full capacity.

       "I hope the people will understand why SAINS cannot waive their bills or offer rebates," he said when met after chairing the state exco meeting at Wisma Negri on Wednesday (Jan 5).

       Aminuddin was responding to a question if SAINS would follow the footsteps of Air Selangor which would waive the January bill for households affected by floods in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

       During the first round of floods in the state in December, SAINS had said that several of its treatment plants had to be closed due to a combination of factors caused by floods.

       Supply to several districts was also interrupted as heavy rains had also caused landslides and the deterioration of raw water quality at some plants. Power supply at several plants had also been cut.

       Aminuddin added that SAINS had to bring in heavy machinery to clear debris from its plants as well as carry out repair works on other damaged infrastructure.

       It also had to carry out re-wiring works at some plants which were completely submerged.

       He said the state government had given RM1,000 to those affected by the floods and as of Dec 31, about RM3.4mil had been disbursed to 3,462 families in Negri Sembilan affected by floods.

       An estimated 5,000 families in the state have been affected by the floods.

       "It is my hope that the victims would use the aid given by the state to pay their bills.

       "After all, their bill would be higher by only RM20 to RM30 at the most. It should not be a problem to pay up," he added.