KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 — Nurul Izzah Anwar alleged today that KL City Hall (DBKL) had made a “political decision” when it cut the water supply of public housing units with outstanding water bills, noting that the punishment had come just months after Election 2013.

The Lembah Pantai MP claimed that DBKL, which comes under the purview of the Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Ministry, had deliberately delayed taking action against errant tenants until after the recently concluded election.

“Since 2010 ... up till 2013, we saw outstanding bills amounting from RM3,000 to RM20,000.

“This means it was a political decision which had allowed the delays of payment until after the general election,” Nurul Izzah (picture) told reporters at the entrance of the DBKL headquarters here.

The ministry was led Raja Datuk Nong Chik Zainal Abidin since 2009 until before the general election this year.

He had challenged incumbent Nurul Izzah in her Lembah Pantai constituency.

Nurul Izzah said about 1,200 units of PPR flats in Kampung Muhibbah—the largest grouping in a single location—had been affected by the water cut.

“With only one week before Hari Raya, during the fasting month, DBKL has decided, after the 13th general election, to take drastic measures to cut off water supply, and to force all owner and tenants at PPR in lembah pantai, to pay the outstanding bill.

“Only after the general election, notices were sent out and tenants have to settle large amount of bills,” she said.

She said the residents had only been warned of the water cuts on July 13 -- a Saturday—and the cuts began in batches from last Monday, two weeks later.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said the residents do not need to make the full payment to have uninterrupted water supply back.

“We have a new policy... a special counter, they can come to us, to settle the bill in stages.

“Even if they pay RM10 or RM20, we’ll accept, as long as they pay,” he told reporters as he was entering the DBKL building.