Enraged after his water bill quadrupled from RM200 to almost RM800 in a matter of months, a 64-year-old man from Bukit Mertajam, Penang, filed a police report to the Machang Bubuk Police on May 31. 

His claims emphasized that the Penang Water Supply Corporation's bill increase was simply unreasonable. 

Pang Chin Tze, a state assembly member from Kampung Sungai Puyu, reportedly disclosed the problem, speculating that it was a water pipe leak.

He became suspicious of a possible water line leak after the complaint's bill increased from RM80 in December 2023 to over RM200 in March 2024 and more recently surged past RM800. 

MP Lim Guan Eng of Bagan called attention to the general discontent and complaints through social media from the public, especially voters, and demanded an explanation from the authorities responsible. 

  
Guan Eng urged authorities of Penang Water Supply Corporation and decision-makers to offer a plausible explanation and or solution to this current situation.  

In response, Zairil Khir Johari, the chairman of the Penang Infrastructure Committee, declared that every family will receive 10,000 liters of free water each month from July to December 2024. 

Furthermore, a rebate of RM20 would be given on their water bills, to large families with monthly incomes under RM5,000.