Residents in lather as water cut off

PEOPLE in Kuala Lumpur are getting hot under the collar as their taps run dry, sometimes for days on end.

A harassed government minister recently assured residents of the Malaysian capital and the surrounding Klang Valley water cuts would not exceed three hours.

Less than a week later tens of thousands of people have learned they could experience disruptions of up to 33 hours this month.

The announcement led to an outcry from Jalan Penaga, where some of the capital's wealthiest citizens live, to Subang Jaya, an area of middle-class terraced houses and flats.

Syed Jalal Abdullah, president of the People's Association of Petaling Jaya, the satellite township, said residents had to suffer frequent water cuts, which sometimes lasted four days.

'We are more than fed up,' he said.

Last month, residents of Bangsar, which includes Jalan Penaga, were told water supplies would be interrupted for 12 hours on a specified day to allow the relocation of pipes.