Its minister Xavier Jayakumar said this would improve the collection of sewage bill payments in the country.

“The joint-billing system is not new as it was introduced in Labuan several years ago and was found to be very effective.

“We may implement it in certain states first such as Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Penang. For the time being, we are studying the matter and will get it done by this year,” he told reporters after attending a talk at Kompleks Karangkraf, Section 15 here yesterday.

He added that the Pahang government had agreed to hold a restructuring exercise for the water services industry in the state in the near future.

Further discussions have been held with Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, he added.

“We hope the exercise will resolve the water supply crisis faced by the people in Pahang,” he said, adding that the exercise had been delayed since 2013.

“Pahang does not have the financial means to resolve the crisis and has looked to the federal government to help them.

“We will assist them, although Pahang is an opposition state,” he said.