PETALING JAYA, Oct 4 — A PKR MP suggested today that the Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia (TTPM) had rejected complaints made against Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), for fear of backlash from the Barisan Nasional-linked corporate giant.

Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin said the seven individuals who went to the TTPM yesterday to claim compensation from Syabas for the recent water disruptions had been right to do so, as the tribunal was the appropriate place to dispose of with such matters.

But the judge rejected their bids, she said, ruling that the cases were not under the tribunal’s jurisdiction and suggesting that the claimants bring the matter to the civil courts.

“We will pressure TTPM to hear this case and make a decision, it is not fair to bring this up to the civil court.

“It is as if TTPM does not dare to make a decision because Syabas is a big corporation and if they [rule in favour of the claimants], a lot of other residents will come forward to file their claims as well,” she told reporters at the PKR headquarters here.

There have been several major water disruptions in the Klang Valley since early this year, with the worst on August 26, where more than one million consumers in Selangor were affected.

“This is the consumers’ rights and they should respect it.

“[Syabas] should be efficient in their service to residents and cannot just get away with this without providing compensation and improving their services.

“We went to the tribunal because it is set up specifically for consumers and there is no cost, it is costly to bring this up to the civil courts, it is unfair to the claimants,” she said.

Zuraida said the biggest claim was for RM20,000 because the claimant had bought a water pump because of the frequent water disruptions, and the least was for RM150.