The sales of water in Perak increased to RM336.98 million in 2016 from RM320.72 million in the same period last year, said Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.

He said the increase was due to the higher water consumption of 4.7 per cent last year compared with 2.3 per cent in 2015.

"The largest increases were contributed by the Northern Region, Western Region and Central Region 1 which exceeded five per cent," he said.

Zamry said this after chairing the Perak Water Board's (LAP) meeting here today.

On subsidies for the poor in Perak, Zamry said, LAP has spent RM8 million since the launch of the programme 10 years ago and it had benefitted 11,418 families.

"For recipients of subsidies granted to places of worship since 2013, LAP has spent RM496,000 as of Feb 14 this year. It involved a total of 1,962 places of worship," he said.

Meanwhile, LAP pre-tax profit for 2016 fell by 17 per cent to RM90.81 million from RM110.30 million in 2015. - BERNAMA