Water Fluoridation For Sabah In 2011 After 21 Years

Water fluoridation would be re-introduced into Sabah's public water supply next year.

Health Deputy Minister Datuk Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin, disclosing this to Bernama here today, said the project was under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

"An allocation of RM2.5 million has been set for it," she added.

Water fluoridation was discontinued in 1989 by the then State Government which feared inadequate supervision in the process of adding fluoride to the water could cause adverse effects.

A concentration of 1mg/L or more may likely cause dental fluorosis, an irreversible condition, among children.

However, the optimum fluoridated level set by the Health Ministry is between 0.5mg/L and 0.7mg/L. This level has been maintained as ensured by the National Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ).

Fluoride plays a key role in the prevention of dental caries (tooth decay). An electronegative element, it helps in the mineralisation of bones and teeth of toddlers and young children. It also promotes repair of tooth enamel (outer layer) in areas that have been demineralised (dissolved) by acids.

The fluoridation process involves adding sodium fluoride or hydrofluoric acid to treated water before the latter is sent to the holding tanks.

The Malaysian government since 1972 approved fluoridation of water as a primary caries prevention programme. Community water fluoridation is regarded as the safest and most cost-effective method of reducing dental decay.

When the then Sabah Government ceased water fluoridation, there was an outcry by some well-meaning quarters which the Health Ministry had dismissed then, considering it a "State matter" as water is a State utility.

Incidentally, a 1985 Dental Health Survey of School Children in Sabah revealed the State has the "worst dental health scenario" compared to the rest of the country and the move by the then State Government was seen to compound the situation.

Penang Water Supply Corp Able To Fulfill Demand Until 2020

Penang Water Supply Corporation is confident that it will be able to fulfill the demand for treated water in the state until 2020 with the upgrading works undertaken at the Sungai Dua water treatment plant.

Its general manager, Ir Jaseni Maidinsa said the upgrading works, which began at 7am today, would also enable the corporation to increase its capacity to supply treated water to nine per cent.

At the same time, he said the capacity of the treated water tanks at the plant would also be increased to 31.9 million litres a day (MLD) from the current 13.6 MLD.

He said the upgrading works on the water pumping and treatment facilities were vital to ensure the corporation's ability to fulfill the demand of treated water supply in the state.

"We do not want a water crisis to occur in the state, so we need to continue the implementation of the works as planned," he said.

Among the works being carried out today were the installation of butterfly valves on water pipelines at Sungai Dua water treatment plant and the final connection at the main water pipeline for the electrified double tracking project - BERNAMA

Selangor sticks to RM5.7b for water assets

Selangor will offer about the same RM5.7 billion to acquire remaining state water assets, and still intends to leave its present owners to pay off their own liabilities.

The Pakatan Rakyat government made the initial offer last February to take back the highly controversial utility, some of the present owners have links to Umno which leads the coalition running the federal government.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim is keen to revert to the figure, subject to updated financial data, due diligence and negotiations on debts, and solve the issue which has even drawn the attention of the state ruler.

The offer will likely be made in January for private assets and equity owned by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor (Splash) and Kumpulan Abass, sources said over the weekend.

The companies’ outstanding bonds will not be covered under the proposed offer. All four players are expected to pay off outstanding debts using the proceeds from the sale of their assets.

It is understood, however, that Selangor is willing to negotiate with all four to help them settle their bonds, failing which any price dispute will be sent to arbitration.

Water and electricity for all in 2 years: DPM

The Federal Government has set itself a target of two years to resolve the electricity and water supply problems facing the people.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said these two basic amenities must be supplied to all Malaysians regardless of where they were living.

“The extension of electricity and water supply has been included in the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) and we have set a target of two years to rovide the people with these amenities,” he said when addressing people from all races during a dinner here on Wednesday night.

Confident of achieving the target, he said the Government had already set things rolling.

Selangor’s water plan remains doubtful

Observers sceptical water restructuring exercise can be resolved soon
 
PETALING JAYA: Despite the state government's efforts to work out a new offer to take over the water concessionaires in Selangor, industry observers are still sceptical that such efforts will resolve the state's water restructuring exercise any time soon.
It was reported recently that the Selangor government and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) would start negotiations again to solve the state water impasse.

Industry observers were reluctant to speculate on what the Selangor government had to offer to the state's water concessionaires this time, but it was understood that the state government was looking at deploying an international arbiter to determine a fair price to buy up the companies.
There are four water companies operating in Selangor, including Syabas, which has the mandate to supply treated water to Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya.

A Syabas billboard in Pandan Indah

 

The other three are water treatment companies, namely, Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Holdings Bhd (Splash), Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd and Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd.
The state government had previously made two offers to the concessionaires: one for RM5.7bil in early 2009 that was rejected by all players and another in the middle of last year for RM9.4bil that was rejected by Syabas.

The Federal Government had also made an offer of RM10.3bil last year but it was turned down by Syabas.
Even Gamuda Bhd, which had a 40% interest in Splash, had in the early part of this year stepped in with a takeover proposal valued at RM10.8bil. But the offer was also rejected on the basis that it was not in line with the spirit of the reforms. It was understood that the Selangor government this time would seek the involvement of the Federal Government under its new offer to help break the deadlock.

'Scrap Pahang-Selangor water project'

Several Pakatan Rakyat senators are urging the government to scrap the Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project.
They, instead want the Energy, Water and Green Technology Minister, Peter Chin Fah Kui to consider other options to diversifying the nation's water resources.
Speaking to newsmen in Parliament today, S Ramakrishnan (DAP) said Chin should consider alternatives such as rain water harvesting and underground water sources to meet the soaring water demand.

“The RM9 billion water transfer project would take six years to be completed. However with the changing weather pattern, we do not know whether Pahang would have enough water resources then.
“If that happens, then the entire project would go to waste,” said Ramakrishnan who was flanked by fellow Pakatan senators Syed Husin Ali (PKR) and Tunku Abdul Aziz (DAP).
“Chin had mentioned the water transfer (issue) as non-negotiable. This is causing a bottleneck in negotiations between the federal government and the Selangor state government,” he said.

Don't pressure Selangor
In a written reply to the Dewan Negara on Dec 15, the minister had informed the august House that the water transfer project was a non-negotiable deal and the state government should work with the federal government to speed up the process.
Negotiations however ended in deadlock as the Selangor state government wanted to restructure the state's water assets first before discussing the water transfer project.
Echoing Ramakrishnan's sentiments, Senator Syed Husin Ali said the curernt situation will affect the public.

“Please do not use the water issue to pressure the state government,” he said.
Syed Husin also took a swipe at Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) chief executive officer, Rozali Ismail for pocketing RM425,000 monthly salary while the company is experiencing millions in losses.
“That was why Syabas wanted to increase tariff by 31% which caused the recent demonstration,” said Syed Husin referring to the Dec 5 rally protesting water tariff hikes at the National Mosque. Forty-seven people were arrested in the rally.- FreeMalaysiaToday

Kerajaan negeri nekad tarik balik lesen Syabas

Kerajaan negeri nekad menarik balik lesen Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) kerana keengganan syarikat itu menghentikan program Tabung Budi walaupun telah menerima surat arahan agar tidak meneruskan program berkenaan.

Setiausaha Politik Menteri Besar, Faekah Husin berkata, kerajaan negeri telah menghantar surat pemberhentian program berkenaan kepada Syabas termasuk Ahli Lembaga Pengarah Syabas supaya mereka jelas dengan peranan penubuhan syarikat itu.

Hari ini, Syabas menerusi Berita Harian memberitahu pihaknya tidak akan menghentikan program tersebut walaupun kerajaan negeri Selangor menyatakan hasrat menarik lesen pembekalan air.

Pengarah Eksekutif Sumber Manusia dan Hal Ehwal Pentadbiran Syabas, Zainuddin Othman menjelaskan, program Tabung Budi yang dilancarkan sejak Ogos lalu hanya akan diberhentikan jika syarikat itu menerima arahan daripada pihak berkuasa.

Mengulas kenyataan tersebut, Faekah menjelaskan, Syabas layak diberhentikan perkhidmatannya kerana telah melanggar matlamat penubuhannya.

“Kerajaan negeri telah mengambil keputusan menamatkan lesen Syabas dan ini adalah salah satu daripada pelanggaran-pelanggaran yang telah dilakukan oleh Syabas dan adalah lebih mudah untuk pihak kerajaan negeri untuk membatalkan lesen mereka”

Government To Play Active Role In Green Technology Growth

The government needs to play an effective role to ensure that green technology in Malaysia sees a full growth from its embryonic stage, says Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui.

Towards this end, the ministry will do everything that is possible to encourage the growth of commercial and industrial enterprises and competition in green technology, he said.

"The Malaysian Green Tech Corporation will ensure that the five main key success factors in this green growth are in place," Chin said at the second International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia 2011, held here Tuesday night.

Among the keys are the enabling laws and regulations that provide business investment and stability in order to ensure the success of sector reforms and gain of confidence from investors, consumers and stakeholders.

The government also needs to have quality, skilled, knowledgeable, creative and innovative human capital, rather than just having sufficient number of qualified manpower, Chin said.

"These personnel should be adequately remunerated so as to attract, motivate and retrain the valuable human capital from within the country and abroad," he explained.

Chin also said consultation was another key. Sectoral stakeholders must be given the opportunity to comment or make their case concerning decisions that may impact them before the decisions are made, he said.

He said the ministry had been instructed to look into the possibility of having regular dialogue sessions on green technology with the industry.

Water Issue: Set Aside Political Differences, Says Peter Chin

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui said political differences between the Selangor government and federal government must be set aside so that the state's water supply restructuring issue could be resolved.

He said any political interference in the negotiating process would not bring any benefit and progress.

"I've always given my cooperation to the negotiation on the water supply restructuring.

"The issue has to be resolved in a rational manner and politics must be set aside if we want to move forward," he said at a news conference after a gathering with the ministry's officers and staff, here Tuesday.

Chin hoped the issue would not prolong but be resolved by next year.

He said the ministry would not prevent the state government from taking over the water supply concessionaire but it must be done based on the sale-purchase principles.- BERNAMA

Charles Santiago: Pemegang bon diseru sokong Kerajaan Selangor

Pemegang bon air di Selangor diseru agar memberi sokongan kepada kerajaan negeri dalam isu pengambilalihan pengurusan air, kata Ahli Parlimen Klang Charles Santiago.

Bercakap kepada Selangorkini Charles juga membidas kerajaan persekutuan yang beria-ia mempertahankan Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (SYABAS) sedangkan pengguna air di negeri ini terabai.

Ahli Parlimen Klang, Charles Santiago 

Semalam Menteri Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui mendakwa  pucuk pimpinan negeri  gagal menyelesaikan masalah berkenaan yang akan memberikan kesan negatif terhadap industri air, malah kebajikan rakyat akan terjejas sekaligus mengancam pasaran kewangan negara.
Reaksi ini diberi menteri berkenaan selepas Ahli Parlimen Petaling Jaya Utara, Tony Pua dan Ahli Parlimen Kuala Selangor, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad berkata  Pakatan Rakyat akan mengadakan siri jelajah secara besar-besaran membantah langkah Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk menyelesaikan isu bon berkaitan air di negeri itu.
“Untuk isu bon ini, saya fikir yang bagus sekali pemegang-pemegang bon itu pergi kepada kerajaan negeri Selangor dan mengatakan supaya sokong kerajaan negeri Selangor untuk mengambil alih balik pengurusan air di Selangor,”katanya.

Tambah Charles lagi berkenaan saranan kerajaan kerajaan pusat agar kerajaan negeri tidak meneruskan hasrat untuk menyaman Syabas,  disifatkan tidak masuk akal kerana jelas pihak Syabas telah melanggar terma-terma perjanjian konsesi air.

Peter Chin juga semalam menyeru kerajaan negeri Selangor dan syarikat-syarikat air mengambil tindakan bertolak ansur berbanding tindakan mahkamah.

“Sebab jelas kita tahu kerajaan pun tahu dan rakyat pun tahu bahawa Syabas telah banyak membuat kesalahan dari segi undang-undang negara dan banyak melanggar perjanjian konsesi dan jelas terdapat dalam laporan Audit yang telah dikeluarkan, tetapi kerajaan tidak ambil tindakan terhadap Syabas tetapi menasihat kerajaan negeri Selangor jangan bawa Syabas ke Mahkamah, ini langsung tidak masuk akal.

“Ini jelas pada saya Syabas lebih disokong oleh kerajaan persekutuan oleh kerana kepentingan masing-masing sebab mereka ini di bawah naungan Umno-Barisan Nasional, apa yang menjadi masalah ialah wang rakyat digunakan,” katanya - SelangorKini

Don't Sue Syabas, Chin Advises Selangor Government

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui has called on both the Selangor government and water companies in the state to "give and take" as a final gesture to resolving the present impasse.

Should the Selangor government take legal action against Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), it would jeopardise efforts for direct negotiations to take over water assets in the state from the players, he told Bernama.

"My view is that if there is a chance to resolve the issues amicably, then you should still go ahead to pursue that.

"I know it is not simple but you also need to remember this is not a shut and open typecase as it involves contractual rights and differences in what is considered a holistic approach," he said.

He said the Selangor government should not resort to any legal action against Syabas when it had been given the approval by the federal government to discuss the possibility of acquiring the four water players in Selangor.

Water Negotiations To Be Conducted Professionally: Selangor Government

The new negotiations between the Selangor Government and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn. Bhd. (Syabas) will be conducted in a highly professional, transparent and ethical manner despite the RM471 million legal suit initiated by the water concessionaire against the state.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said while the state will do its utmost to defend itself against the suit in which Syabas claimed for compensation over the state's decision not to allow for a water tariff increase, it will not allow the court case to affect future negotiations.

"We have always been professional and transparent in the past and we will continue to do," said the Menteri Besar.

Selangor is currently preparing an offer document for the water concessionaires: Syabas, Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn. Bhd., Abass and SPLASH to take over the water services industry.

A new phase of negotiations was initiated after the Federal Government said it no longer objects to direct negotiation between the state and the concessionaires - BERNAMA

Selangor Government Likely To Take SYABAS To Court

The Selangor government is waiting for the right time to take the water company SYABAS to court to have its licence withdrawn, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid said Wednesday.

He believed that the action would be taken considering that SYABAS was ignoring the state government's directive to stop its Tabung Budi programme.

"We are awaiting a reply from them. If they continue (with what they are doing), it would be easier for us to prove in court that they have gone against the agreement to supply water," he told reporters here.

Khalid said that SYABAS had no right to collect donations through Tabung Budi from consumers who receive subsidies from the state government.

Selangor residents receive 20 cubic metres gratis from the state government worth RM11.40.

The Budi Fund that SYABAS launched last Aug 24 allows residents to waive this subsidy for the company to use the money to help other residents who have no access to clean water.- BERNAMA

Malaysians, forget about WikiLeaks — Sakmongkol AK47

WikiLeaks’ revelation about how Singapore leaders view PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak is only the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Simply put, you can’t immediately erase conditioned thinking quickly. Malaysian leaders in general, and not just Najib alone, are regarded as “deficient” in many aspects. So, as BG Yeo, Singapore’s foreign minister, said “let’s not take this out of context.” Perhaps, this general patronising impression about Malaysia’s leaders is making the rounds as cocktail circuit bitchy talk only. Our diplomats and the well-heeled are making the same bitchy remarks about the PM and his wife. So what is new?

I shall leave out some of the more damaging remarks Singapore leaders have on Najib. My source is not WikiLeaks but from some source that is well connected to Singapore leaders on a first-hand basis. It’s better than WikiLeaks.

Singapore’s rather condescending assessment on Najib must have accentuated at the time over the way Malaysia handled the issue of KTM land and related matters some time ago. Earlier on, of course, the way we handled Batu Puteh more or less confirmed Singapore’s belief that Malaysian leaders from the information minster to the third-class honours A-G are mentally deficient.

But at this moment, the story of the hour is that Malaysians are more interested in accepting as true what WikiLeaks reported on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar did it, but did it because he was entrapped. If there is any possible means at damage control, it lies in the spin that can be manufactured around the term “entrapment”.

Holistic model the best way to solve Selangor water impasse

Once the buzzword of the Malaysian political economy, privatisation has now come to be looked upon with much suspicion and at times, scorn and disdain. Well almost. But why the reversal of perception, you ask?


Privatisation and its precursor Malaysia Incorporated, the hallmark and brainchild of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, were strategic measures meant to spur growth through a “smart partnership” between the government and the private sector. Despite the good intentions, the implementation of both policies has not always been well understood, much less, well worked out.

After three decades, while it’s a struggle to shortlist the success stories, the list of failed privatisations gets longer. Sewerage company Indah Water Konsortium; the light rail transit (LRT) systems — both Putra and Star; the KL monorail; transport companies Parkmay and Intrakota; the Bakun power plant; Konsortium Perkapalan Bhd; Time dotcom; and national carrier Malaysian Airline System Bhd all cost the rakyat in the end. Billions of ringgit were spent to bail out these debt-ridden privatised entities in the name of safeguarding the “national interest”.

Peter Chin: No water bailouts

No bailouts, but the federal government will help to ensure the people of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya have a continuous supply of water.

That was Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin’s message in response to the ongoing water dispute between the Selangor and federal governments.

The minister said the joint committee is trying to work out a solution on the Selangor water issue, which has been deadlocked for almost two years.

Asked if there is a deadline, Chin said: “As long as we cannot resolve [the issue on a] willing buyer, willing seller [basis], how can we set a deadline?

“I have agreed more or less with [Tan Sri] Khalid [Ibrahim], Menteri Besar of Selangor that we will try to resolve this by the end of this year. He himself put [forward] that date that he can find a solution.”

Syabas reconnects bulk meter after payment by developer

WATER supply to 80 business operators at the Kinrara Commercial Centre in Taman Kinrara Section 3, Puchong, was restored after three days when the developer paid an initial deposit of RM20,000 to Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) yesterday.

Syabas disconnected the bulk meter to restaurauts, laundry outlets, air-conditioner shops after the developer, Sentosa Restu Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Talam Corporation Berhad, failed to settle RM119,510 in bills.

Talam Corporation senior vice-president I Tan Bak Hai said the action to disconnect water supply to the business premises was harsh.

“We understand that there has been unpaid water bills but this is linked to certain matters with the Joint Maintenance Body (JMB) that was formed in 2008 but later disbanded.

“No maintenance fees is being collected except for the quit rent,” he said after meeting the operators at Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok’s service centre in Taman Kinrara.

Practise Cost Effective Culture, Peter Chin Tells Utilities

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui has called on utility companies to practise cost-effective culture in delivering service to users.

He said the needs and demands of users were too high and as users, they wanted services that correspond to the money being spent.

"For a giant like Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) which has about 7.4 million customers nationwide, it will always be monitored by customers, non-governmental organisations and relevant parties like shareholders and so on.

"As a company listed on Bursa Malaysia, it needs to strike a balance between making profits for shareholders and satisfying the needs of customers as the utility users," he said after the launch of TNB's Client Charter here Wednesday.

The client charter will take effect in January next year and monitored by the Energy Commission. It will ensure TNB customers receive quality service.- BERNAMA

Offer Documents To Take Over Water Concessionaires Ready In Two Weeks - Khalid

The Selangor government's offer documents to take over the four water concessionaires in the state will be ready in two weeks, said Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
He said the state executive council would deliberate the matter first before they are submitted to the companies concerned.

"We are not able to reveal the details for now. Details will be revealed once the offer is officially made through Selangor's Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI)," he told reporters after chairing the state executive councils' weekly meeting here Wednesday.

The four concessionaires are Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Sungai Selangor Sdn. Bhd (Splash) and Konsortium ABASS.

On other developments, Abdul Khalid announced that special financial assistance of RM500 would be given to Selangor government staff from Grade 1 to Garde 54 this month including temporary officers, contract staff and attachment teachers.- BERNAMA

W(h)at-er Politics In Selangor!

W(h)at-er politics in Selangor! It appears that it all boils down to politics when it comes to Selangor's water restructuring exercise which has been dragging on for the past few months.

In Selangor, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat-led state government is dragging its feet over the approval of water tariff increase as sought by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas).

Last Sunday, the state government even took its supporters to the streets to hand over a memorandum to the Istana Negara, seeking intervention by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin in the issue of restructuring the Selangor water supply industry.

But up north, two states controlled by PKR's allies -- DAP in Penang and PAS in Kedah -- have increased the water rates this year, despite their pledge not to burden the rakyat.

A research house, AmResearch, in a note on Monday said the latest development where Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim handed over the memorandum to Istana Negara on Sunday, indicated that political factors were the main cause for the deadlock.

Charles : Pengambil alihan industri air beri kesan positif kepada rakyat

SHAH ALAM,6 Dis – Rakyat Selangor akan menerima kesan positif sekiranya kerajaan negeri Selangor berjaya mendapatkan hak ke atas empat syarikat konsesi air melalui tawaran semula dengan kos RM6 bilion seperti yang dipersetujui oleh kerajaan pusat.

Menurut ahli parlimen Klang, Charles Santiago, ini merupakan berita baik bagi rakyat di negeri ini sekiranya kerajaan negeri berjaya mendapatkan kembali hak pengurusan air negeri.

Dalam masa sama, rakyat katanya bakal menikmati tarif air terbaru yang jauh lebih rendah berbanding yang ditawarkan Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor atau Syabas sebelum ini.

“Rakyat negeri ini beruntung kerana mereka tidak perlu membayar lebih tinggi kerana tarif air yang tinggi tidak akan dilaksanakan,” ulas Charles.

Tambahnya, selain menikmati kadar tarif air yang rendah, keuntungan yang daripada penjimatan itu turut disalurkan untuk tujuan kebajikan rakyat sejujur dengan hasrat kerajaan negeri untuk Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor (MES).

Selangor Water Impasse

It looks like MB Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, and his Pakatan Rakyat friends are more interested to get political capital from the water restructuring exercise that paying full attention to the matter at hand which is to hammer out a deal with the water concession companies.

I really do not see the point of holding a protest march to the Istana Negara just to hand over a Memo to DYMM Yang DiPertuan Agong on a matter that both the Selangor and the Federal Government have agreed to be handled by a Joint Committee to find ways as well as means to effect the restructuring exercise.

The committee is still existing so let it carry on. There is no need to involve the Palace at all. This is pure politics and nothing else!

On the other hand, Tan Sri Khalid made a statement today to tell the world that I had agreed to let Selangor buy over the water companies in a letter that I had written to him.

He timed this statement a day after handing over the protest memorandum to the Istana Official.

To me the Menteri Besar was trying to take advantage of what I had written to him two or three weeks ago in reply to a letter from him.

Selangor water issue remains uncertain

By EDY SARIF

Analysts blame political factors for the deadlock
PETALING JAYA: Selangor's water restructuring exercise continues to be uncertain with a solution yet to be found.

AmResearch in a note yesterday said the latest development, where Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim handed a memorandum on the water issue to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin last Sunday, showed that political factors were the main cause for the deadlock.

The latest development validates our earlier view that the deadlock surrounding negotiations on Selangor's fragmented water industry (was) due to the evolving federal-state relationship, it said.

Among the salient points of the memorandum was a request for the King to order the rights to Selangor's water resources, now under Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), be returned to the state government.

Selangor Gets Ministry's Approval To Buy States Water Concession Cos

SHAH ALAM, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The Selangor government on December 3 received a formal approval from the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry to buy all the four water concession companies in the state, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said.

With this, the state government plans to conduct an open tender offer to buy all the four companies to carry out its plans to restructure the state's water supply industry.

"We will conduct an open tender in accordance with the Securities Commission's conditions to make the purchase within two to three weeks," he told reporters here Monday.

The four water concession companies are Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) and Konsortium ABASS.

Abdul Khalid said he believed that the Federal Government decided to give some leeway in the water issue to speed up the raw water transfer project from Pahang to Selangor to supply 1,890 million litres of water a day to the Klang Valley.

Ministry Says It Never Stopped Selangor Government From Taking Over Syabas

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The federal government, through the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, has never stopped the Selangor state government from taking over not only Syabas but all the water concession companies in the state.

This was the stand as long as the takeover was based on a "willing buyer, willing seller" basis and with respect to the existing, legal concession agreements and the understanding that the state government fully finances the takeover, the ministry said in a statement Monday.

This agreement has been there since early 2008 when the suggestion to restructure Selangor's water supply industry was presented to the government, it said.

The matter was explained by its Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui through letters to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, as well as in press statements and in Parliament, the ministry said.

The last time this explanation was given to Abdul Khalid was through a letter dated November 24, it said.

With this explanation, there was no need for the Selangor government to hand over a Memorandum or call on its supporters to demonstrate.

Status of raw water transfer project still uncertain

By EDY SARIF
PETALING JAYA: The status of Pahang-Selangor interstate raw water transfer project that costs nearly RM9bil is still uncertain despite some parts of it having already been awarded.

On Thursday, JAKS Resources Bhd and IJM Corp Bhd announced that their 40:60 joint venture had won a contract for the Semantan pipeline and related works worth about RM268mil under the project.

An analyst told StarBiz that the contracts awarded so far were for the Pahang portion as the Selangor government had said it would not proceed with the construction of the Langat River 2 water treatment plant.

The bulk of the project worth RM2bil (Langat 2 water treatment plant) is in Selangor and it will be meaningless to build all the pipelines if they can't be connected to the water treatment plant.

The Selangor government needs to reach an agreement with the Federal Government or the project is not going anywhere, he said.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui was reported to have said recently that the delay in implementing the project could cause losses for the Federal Government and affect job opportunities and development programmes for the people.

Selangor water protesters tear-gassed

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 — Riot police fired tear gas and used water cannons on at least 1,000 protesters near the KL Railway Station as they marched to the Istana Negara today to rally against a potential bailout of Selangor water utility companies.
Hundreds of protestors sought refuge at the Railway Station to avoid the police action after they started their march from the National Mosque.

Riot police later turned the water cannons on those who had gone back to the National Mosque despite organisers announcing an end to the rally shortly before 3pm.

The rally ended about 4pm when Pakatan Rakyat leaders appealed to the crowd at the National Mosque to disperse under the watch of phalanxes of fully-armed riot police.

Najib to BN: Beware the 4 ills

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 5, 2010): Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties must avoid the four "diseases" – delusion, amnesia, inertia and arrogance – which can make them lose the people’s support, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said today.

BN component party leaders at the convention.

Saying parties which had been in power for long rarely had an introspective view on their weaknesses, the Barisan Nasional chairman warned that these were diseases they might face. "(So) do not be deluded into thinking that you will receive continuous support from the people. Secondly, do not have amnesia and easily forget the main reasons for our struggles.

Rakyat's Interests Come First In Selangor's Water Issue

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- The interests of the rakyat were top priority when resolving the issue of restructuring the water services industry in Selangor, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

In this context, he said all parties must put aside their political interests as the water issue was a serious problem.

"We have to, because the problem is the state (government) and (it has) got (taken) a different position on the water problem. It is a very serious problem.

"We should set aside political issues and look at the interests of the people, more than anything else," said Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, at the end of the 2010 BN Convention here Sunday.

He said this when asked about a news report that the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, voiced disappointment that the water issue had been politicised.

The Sultan said he did not want the people of Selangor to be the biggest losers, should the taps run dry, and warned of an imminent water crisis if the stand-off between the federal and Selangor governments over an inter-state raw water transfer project was not resolved fast. - BERNAMA

Najib: Resolve water impasse for sake of the people

KUALA LUMPUR: All political differences should be set aside to resolve the water issue stalemate in Selangor, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He added that the crisis had risen due to the difference in view between the Federal and Selangor governments.

“Because it’s a serious problem, we should set aside political issues and differences to settle this.

“We must look at the request of the people more than anything else,” he said after the Barisan Nasional Convention here yesterday.

Najib was responding to Sultan of Selangor Tuanku Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s warning that the water transfer project between Selangor and Pahang could cause a water crisis if not resolved fast.

Raw deal for water

By CHUA SZE CHIH
As a resident of Selangor, I must voice out my views on its water supply services.

Before moving into the apartment I am staying now, I was very unhappy at the place I had rented because the landlord had not installed water filters, and the other tenants were all office workers who could not afford to install them too.

So there were several years, when we had to use raw water directly from the taps. When I first saw the raw water, I was horrified as it looked like teh tarik. I was shocked when I saw the khaki-colour water. I even tried to create a simple DIY filter, by wrapping cotton cloth around the tap. But it failed. I had also bought plastic filters and cheap water filters from the supermarket. But none proved useful. As they all could only filter drinking water, but not water for washing or bathing. I finally understood why water filter companies have so good business.

Potong gaji pengerusi Syabas, bukan naik harga air

KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Dis: Dewan Pemuda PAS Wilayah Persekutuan (DPPWP) menyokong sekiranya ada usaha Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) sendiri memotong gaji pengerusinya untuk menampung kos operasi atau memberi bantuan keperluan asas kepada penduduk khususnya warga Selangor. Ketua Penerangannya, Fadhil Osman berkata pihaknya merasa terkejut dengan maklumat pendapatan Pengerusi Eksekutif Syabas mencecah RM5.1 juta setahun atau bersamaan RM425,000 sebulan. Katanya, DPPWP hairan bagaimana kerajaan Selangor sebelum era Pakatan Rakyat (PR) boleh meluluskan pendapatan sebegini banyak untuk seorang pengerusi syarikat yang mempunyai kepentingan dengan keperluan asas penduduk di negeri Selangor iaitu air. DPPWP, ujarnya tidak kisah sekiranya pendapatan tersebut diperolehi oleh pengerusi atau ketua pegawai eksekutif (CEO) syarikat gergasi yang mempunyai keuntungan berbilion ringgit setahun dan bersifat internasional.

Jangan sampai tabung budi dipertikaikan ‘Nawaitu’nya — Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad

Dalam keadaan yang cukup tertekan dengan situasi yang melingkunginya, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) mutakhir ini menjalankan satu kegiatan yang didakwa dalam rangka Tanggung Sosial Korporat atau CSRnya.

Diberi nama Tabung Budi, Syabas sedang menggalakkan pengguna dan khususnya kakitangannya untuk menyerahkan wang RM11.40 sebagai nilai harga air percuma yang diberikan oleh kerajaan negeri Selangor kepada rakyatnya untuk Tabung Budi Syabas.
Mengikut Enakmen Bekalan Air Selangor 1997 atau Selangor Water Suply Enactment, 1997, Syabas diberi lessen untuk menjalankan kegiatan dalam hal mengurus dan membekal air di Selangor, Putrajaya dan Kuala Lumpur.

Adalah difahamkan bahawa Syabas tidak dimandatkan dan juga tidak diberi kuasa untuk membuat apa-apa pungutan wang dari pengguna-pengguna dan tidak sama sekali diberi mandat untuk mengumpul dana dan tidak dari wang yang hasil dari air percuma yang diberikan oleh kerajaan negeri Selangor kepada pengguna-pengguna di Selangor.

Serah memo air kepada Agong

Tian Chua

KUALA LUMPUR 2 Dis – Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan) menyeru rakyat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, keluar menyertai perarakan bersama-sama Menteri Besar Selangor bagi menyerahkan memorandum bantahan kenaikan tarif air kepada Yang Di-pertuan Agong, di Istana Negara, Ahad ini.

100 ribu rakyat Selangor telah menandatangani memorandum membantah kenaikan tarif 37 peratus yang akan diserahkan oleh Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim kepada Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin selepas perarakan yang bermula dari Masjid Negara, jam 12 tengah hari.

“Ini adalah perhimpunan menyatakan pendirian warga selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan terhadap satu aset awam yang perkosa sesetengah pihak untuk keuntungan. Apa yang kerajaan PR Selangor cuba lakukan ialah kembalikan semula hak ini sebagai satu aset awam kemudahan untuk rakyat jelata,” kata Ahli Parlimen Batu, Tian Chua.

Beliau berkata, Syabas termasuk Kerajaan Persekutuan, menggunakan pelbagai kaedah untuk menghalang Kerajaan Pakatan Selangor bagi mendapatkan hak air selama dua tahun.

Khalid Samad

Ahli Parlimen Shah Alam, Khalid Samad ketika sidang media turut menyuarakan jalan terakhir kerajaan negeri menggunakan suara rakyat mengembalikan hak kerajaan negeri itu.

“Kerajaan negeri Selangor cuba buat apa yang sepatutnya dilakukan. Telah cuba berunding dengan Syabas, sudah membuat tawaran RM5.7 bilion, sudah cuba berunding dengan Kerajaan Pusat.

“Tapi atas sebab-sebab kepentingan politik maka semua usaha Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, digagalkan. Maka akhirnya kita tidak ada pilihan, melainkan zahirkan sokongan rakyat terhadap usaha untuk membatalkan penswastaaan dan mengembalikan aset negeri Selangor kepada kerajaan negeri,” kata beliau.

Dalam pada itu, Ahli Parlimen Klang, Charles Santiago menyentuh mengenai tabung Budi di bawah Syabas berkata, ia amat mengelirukan rakyat.

“Apa yang Syabas buat, mereka pergi ke rumah-rumah, kalau mereka mahu derma air itu sebanyak RM11.40 yang dikatakan akan diberikan kepada rumah yang tidak dapat air percuma.

Charles Santiago

“Tapi persoalannya wang itu dibayar oleh Kerajaan Selangor. tetapi sekarang Syabas kata ini dalam rangka Tanggung Sosial Korporat mereka. Tapi tindakan mereka ini mengelirukan rakyat,” kata beliau pada sidang media yang sama.

Menurut Charles lagi, Syabas kelihatan lebih tertekan apabila tetap berdegil tidak akan memberhentikan kegiatan mereka walaupun menyedari perbuatan tersebut salah kerana menggunakan wang kerajaan negeri.

Dalam pada itu, program anjuran Kerajaan Negeri Selangor itu dijangka akan bertembung dengan sebuah kumpulan pro-Umno Selangor yang menggelar diri mereka sebagai Gagasan Anti Penyelewengan Selangor (GapS) akan menyerahkan memorandom kepada Yang Di-pertuan Agong, ‘bukti penyelewengan 30 perkara’ di negeri itu.

Antaranya termasuk isu pembelian hutang syarikat Talam Corporation, penutupan Institut Kemahiran Yayasan Selangor (IKYS) dan ‘kegagalan’ mengutip hasil pasir seperti yang dijanjikan. - SelangorKini

Halang Syabas: Jika tidak air Selangor lebih mahal daripada Singapura

SHAH ALAM,  2 Dis - Sekiranya rakyat Selangor membenarkan diri mereka diperlakukan sewenang-wenangnya oleh Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), yang disokong sepenuhnya oleh Kerajaan Pusat, maka tidak mustahil harga air di negeri ini akan menyamai atau melebihi harga air di Singapura.

Demikian kata Ahli Jawatankuasa, Mohamad Sabu dalam taklimat, ‘Kembalikan Hak Air Rakyat Selangor’ malam tadi, sambil mengingatkan rakyat di Selangor, agar tidak membenarkan perkara seumpama itu berlaku kerana air adalah keperluan awam, dan tidak wajar dikawal oleh pihak berkepentingan.

“Dengan keadaan itu, air di Selangor barangkali sama atau lebih mahal daripada air di Singapura,” kata Mohamad kepada kira-kira 400 penduduk di Batu Tiga Shah Alam.

Mohamad Sabu yang juga Ahli Lembaga Pengarah Pembekalan Air di Pulau Pinang, turut mengingatkan rakyat Selangor agar tidak terus-terusan diperkotak-katikkan oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan dan syarikat kroninya, Syabas dengan fakta-fakta yang sengaja diada-adakan.

Beliau juga mahu rakyat Selangor memahami siapa sebenarnya yang mendapat keuntungan daripada penswastaan air di Selangor, dengan membandingkan gaji Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) konsesi air di negeri ini dengan Pulau Pinang.

“Saya bagi tahu Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, CEO Syabas, gajinya RM425 ribu sebulan. Ertinya, 40 kali ganda daripada CEO air di Pulau Pinang. Dan sudah tentulah berkali-kali ganda daripada gaji Perdana Menteri, menteri-menteri, dan yang paling tinggi lebih daripada gaji dan elaun Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Menurut Mohamad lagi, kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang mengambil pendekatan mesra rakyat dengan tidak menaikkan harga air, namun hanya mengenakan surcaj kepada pengguna domestik yang menggunakan iar melebihi kadar sepatutnya bermula 1 November lalu.

Bahkan, tanpa menaikkan harga air sebelum ini, syarikan pembekalan air di negeri berkenaan berjaya meraih keuntungan di antara RM20 hingga RM24 juta setahun.

Namun di Selangor pula, situasinya berbeza kata Mohamad, apabila industri air yang diswastakan sejak puluhan tahun lalu dijadikan lubuk kepada pihak tertentu
untuk meraih keuntungan berlipat ganda.

“Hebat tidak hebat Syabas ini, walaupun berhutang dengan pelbagai agensi lebih kurang RM6 bilion, tetapi masih boleh membayar gaji CEO nya sebanyak RM425 ribu sebulan dengan pelbagai bonus lain yang diberi kepada orang-orang atas yang berada di Syabas,” kata beliau.

Justeru Mohamad Sabu menyeru seluruh rakyat Selangor, segera bertindak menghapuskan sistem monopoli terhadap industri air di Selangor dengan bersama-sama Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim pada Ahad ini untuk menyerahkan memorandum kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Beliau juga menasihati rakyat supaya tidak takut dengan sebarang tindakan kerana katanya, perhimpunan aman adalah sesuatu yang dibenarkan, merujuk kepada
kesnya dalam dakwaan menyertai perhimpunan awam yang dianjurkan oleh Gabungan Pilihan Raya bersih dan Adil (Bersih) sebelum ini.

“Polis menangkap orang di kawasan masjid bertentangan dengan Perlembagaan Malaysia. Oleh itu, tuan-tuan dan puan-puan, tidak perlu takut kerana kita bukan pergi untuk bergaduh dengan sesiapa, tetapi kita pergi dengan cara paling aman, paling tenteram, kerana hendak sampaikan hasrat penduduk Selangor,” tambah Mohamad lagi.

Sementara itu ahli parlimen Shah Alam, Khalid Samad berkata, tindakan Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) menswastakan air di Selangor merupakan satu perbuatan yang menzalimi rakyat.

“Itulah sebabnya kita membantah kerana kita tahu keputusan Umno-BN menswastakan air ini merupakan satu tindakan yang zalim,”katanya.

Justeru tambahnya, walaupun kerajaan negeri Selangor di bawah Pakatan Rakyat  (Pakatan) berusaha keras untuk menyelesaikan masalah dengan menawarkan membeli syarikat konsesi air tesebut dengan bayaran lumayan dan membatalkan perjanjian konsesi sebelum ini, Syabas menolaknya dan tindakan tersebut disokong oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan.

Malah Syabas juga tidak berpuas hati setelah kerajaan negeri berjaya menghalang kenaikan 37 peratus harga air pada tahun lalu.

“Dia akan gunakan isu konsesi air ini untuk ugut rakyat Selangor. Kata kalau kerajaan BN memerintah, kita akan serahkan konsesi air ini balik kepada kerajaan negeri tapi kalau Pakatan, tidak,” tambahnya lagi. - SelangorKini

JAKS, IJM units win water transfer project

PETALING JAYA: A joint-venture between JAKS Resources Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary JAKS Sdn Bhd, and IJM Corp's wholly-owned subsidiary IJM Construction Sdn Bhd yesterday signed and accepted the letter of acceptance from the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water for the Pahang-Selangor raw water transfer project and related works worth RM268.53mil.
JAKS and IJM said in separate statements to Bursa Malaysia that the project, to be completed by May 30, 2014, involved the construction of 3-metre nominal diametre mild steel pipes with total length of about 24km (including eight pipes river crossing) and two access roads measuring about 1.9km and 1.5km (including an 80-metre bridge).

IJM Construction has a 60% stake in the joint venture, with the balance held by JAKS Sdn Bhd.
JAKS Sdn Bhd will use its internally generated funds or source external borrowings to finance the operation of the project.
It said the project was not expected to have any material impact on the earnings, net assets and gearing of the group for the financial year ending Oct 31, 2011. - TheStar

Kuching Water Board considers alternative methods such as electrochlorination

THE city’s water board is considering a safer alternative method to disinfect treated water.
The present method of using liquid chlorine at the Kuching Water Board’s (KWB) treatment plant in Batu Kitang could endanger residents nearby if there was a leak, said KWB acting general manager Paul Chan.
“The development of light industrial estates and housing projects in Jalan Batu Kitang has resulted in a tremendous increase in population density near the plant,” he said.

“One alternative is the electrochlorination method which involves the use of common salt or sodium chloride.
“However, KWB will need to study the financial implications before embarking on such a change,” he said when officiating at a chlorine-leak drill at the treatment plant near Kuching yesterday.
The plant’s Safety and Health Committee and KWB’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) held the drill for the third since 2006.

It was aimed at heightening the preparedness of the ERT members and treatment plant staff, and provide evacuation training for community leaders and headmasters of the nearby schools namely SJK Chung Hua and SK Batu Kitang.

Chan explained that chlorine was used in most water treatment plants for disinfection, but it was a very dangerous gas.

“Its danger is magnified when it is liquefied and packed into pressurised 930kg steel drums,” he said.
The most harmful chlorine exposure was from inhalation and the health effects began within seconds to minutes, depending on the amount of chlorine a person had been exposed to and the length of time of exposure, he said.

“The common symptoms are airway irritation, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, sore throat, cough, chest tightness, eye irritation and skin irritation,” he said.
Chan said that KWB had taken safety measures such as the installation of detectors, scrubber systems, the establishment of an emergency response plan and the formation of ERT.
“It is our responsibility to inform the public on our activities at the plant and the danger of chlorine if it leaks.
“The board has been educating nearby residents on what they need to do during such emergencies,” he added. - TheStar

Penswastaan Air: Mengfaraidkan Harta Orang Ramai

Sebelum dasar penswastaan diperkenalkan oleh Mahathir Muhamad bekalan air untuk warga diseluruh negara dikendali dan diuruskan oleh PWD - Public Works Department atau Jabatan Kerja Raya – JKR.

PWD/JKR ini bukan syarikat kroni dan tidak pernah berniat untuk mencari untung. Tidak ada  individu atau Pun Seri yang memiliki saham dalam lembaga JKR. Saham JKR dimiliki oleh seluruh warga Malaysia kerana JKR ini adalah harta awam. Jabatan ini bertugas untuk menjaga kebajikan orang ramai. Berkhidmat untuk kebajikan semua warga negara adalah niat  dan rukun iman JKR.

Semuanya berubah apabila dasar penswastaan diperkenalkan. Dasar penswastaan adalah dasar kapitalis di mana semua hak milik rakyat yang di bawah jagaan kerajaan dijualkan kepada orang ramai. Sebenarnya penswastaan ini adalah satu projek silap mata dimana harta rakyat disonglap oleh para kroni.

Caranya bagini:

Loji air dan semua yang bersangkutan dengan pembekalan air sebelum penswastaan adalah milik orang ramai. Penswastaan adalah dasar dimana harta milik orang ramai ini diambil alih dan difaraidkan kepada para kroni, cukong dan mereka yang berduit untuk membeli sham.

Cara mengfaraidkan harta orang ramai ini kepada kroni cukup senang – tak perlu silap mata. Loji dan semua yang bersangkutan dengan air yang awalnya milik orang ramai ini diubah suai untuk dijadikan sebuah syarikat. Lalu Menteri Keewangan meletakkan nilai terhadap saham air syarikat ini.

Kementerian keewangan mengeluarkan pink form. Tertera di pink form inilah jumlah saham yang telah difaraidkan kepada sang kroni. Sang kroni atau kawan atau kenalan Pak Menteri boleh membawa pink form ini ke bank. Bank dengan berbesar hati akan menyediakan pinjaman berlandaskan jumlah saham yang tertera di pink form. Pinjaman dari bank ini untuk membolehkan sang kroni membeli saham yang akan diapongkan.

Sebelum ini Menteri Keewangan akan meletakan harga  terhadap saham air disyarikat baru ini. Biasanya akan dinilai dengan harga yang agak rendah. Ini untuk memastikan mereka yang dapat anugerah saham dan pink form akan dapat menjualkan balik dengan harga yang lebih mahal.  Saham ini diapongkan – kerana dinilai  murah -  maka apabila  diapongkan ramai pembeli sanggup membeli dengan harga yang mahal.

Maka tuan empunya pink form dan tuan empuya saham akan menjualkan saham dengan harga mahal. Inilah cara dasar penswastaan dimana kaum kerabat, kroni  dan elit  kawan kawan United Malays National Organisation dapat membuat – bukan mee segera tapi duit segera.

Justeru – para kroni, anak bini, kaum keluarga dan kawan kawan Pak Menteri akan jadi kaya raya melalui dasar penswastaan ini. Kerana mereka semua ini mendapat manafaat maka pastilah mereka akan menyokong dasar ini  hingga ke liang lahad.

Tetapi bukankah amat jelas dasar penswastaan – memfaraidkan harta orang ramai - ini adalah kerja merompak di siang hari?

Betul. Ini satu rompakan resmi melalui penswastaan. Ini adalah dasar yang diajukan oleh United Malays National Organisation. Rompakan ini juga menggunakan parlimen untuk menghalalkan cara merembat harta orang ramai. Inilah caranya bagaimana air rakyat Selangor tetiba dimiliki oleh syarikat Syabas.

Kesah rompakan ini diteruskan lagi :

Untuk memastikan harta rompakan ini  akan terus membawa keuntungan,  United Malays National Organisation telah mengikat  perjanjian dengan Syabas ketika menjual harta rakyat ini. Dalam perjanjian jual beli ini United Malays National Organisation telah memastikan setiap dua atau tiga tahun harga air wajib dinaikkan.

Kenapa kah ini berlaku? Tidak kah sesiapa nampak akan butir  isi perjanjian ini?

Rompakan ini cukup licik – orang yang merompak dan orang yang membuat  perjanjian adalah malaon yang sama. Ertinya  Pak Menteri yang bertanggung jawab membuat perjanjian adalah juga pemegang saham dalam syarikat yang di swastakan ini. Pelik? Silap mata? Tidak!

Kalau diselidik nama menteri ini pasti tidak akan ditemui. Menteri ini bukan bangang. Pak Menteri akan menggunakan pelbagai cara – lihat bagaimana Khir Toyo menggunakan si pemandu pribadinya untuk menerima geran tanah seluas 200 ekar. Semua boleh diurus. Ini dasar Malaysia boleh!

Perlu diberitahu bahawa surat perjanjian ini tidak pernah diketahui oleh orang ramai. Perjanjian antara Syabas dan kerajaan Selangor telah menjadi rahsia dan jatuh di bawah Akta Rahsia Kerajaan. Ini lah cara  si perompak merompak harta orang ramai dan menjaga hasil rompakan mereka.

Hanya apabila kerjaaan Selangor ditadbir oleh Pakatan Rakyat barulah diketahui semua isi perjanjian ini. Kerajaan Selangor telah membakul sampahkan Akta Rahsia Kerajaan. Sekarang semua maklumat kerajaan Selangor boleh ditemui tidak ada lagi yang berahsia rahsia. Rahsia Syabas sudah kantoi!

Hari ini kerajaan Pakatan di Selangor ingin mengambil alih kembali syarikat air Syabas. Ertinya  dikembalikan  kepada kedudukan asal dimana air dan semua yang bersangkutan dengan air di Selangor bukan milik syarikat atau saham individu tetapi milik kerajaan. Dari syarikat swasta dikembalikan untuk menjadi hak milik orang ramai sekali lagi.

Kenapa kerajaan Pakatan Selangor berbuat demikian?

Semenjak tahun 1997 apabila air di Selangor di swastakan amat jelas ianya telah merugikan orang ramai. Syarikat air Syabas selama 10 tahun ini telah dijadikan lombong emas untuk memperkayakan para kroni dan kaum keluarga. Buktinya amat jelas. Ini bukan fitnah dan tohmah. Bukti ini muncul dari laporan audit tahunan yang diteliti oleh kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Selangor.

Tahukah warga Selangor dan warga Malaysia anak semua bangsa: bahawa gaji CEO Syabas, Tan Sri Rozali Ismail ialah 5.1 juta ringgit setahun atau 425,000 ringgit  sebulan.  Bayangkan kalau 5 juta ringgit  ini duit lima sen sudah tenggelam seluruh tasik  air di Hulu Langat.

Perlu juga diberitahu dari laporan audit ini, syarikat Syabas ini telah memberikan 72% kontrek bernilai 600 juta ringgit kepada syarikat kroni melalui rundingan sap sap sui. Juga dari laporan yang sama telah diketahui bagaiman 325 juta ringgit ‘tenggelam lesap’ entah kemana.

Melihatkan ini maka kerajaan Selangor sedang bertempur kuat untuk mengambil alih kembali kawalan terhadap syarikat Syabas. Sekarang ini warga Selangor telah  mendapat 20 kubik meter air percuma. Air percuma ini  diberi ketika Syabas masih lagi syarikat swasta. Bayangkan jika Syabas ini milik orang ramai. Berapa banyak keuntungan yang dapat kita sama sama rasa. Bukan hanya Tan Sri Ghazali sahaja yang dapat minum champagne Dom Perignon – malah seluruh warga Selangor dapat  berenang dengan duit yang telah diselamatkan dari dirompak.

Apa yang sedang dilakukan oleh kerjaan Pakatan Rakyat di Selangor ini adalah permulaan untuk mengembalikan hak rakyat. Mengembalikan harta rakyat yang telah difaraidkan oleh  Mahathir Muhamad dan konco-konconya. Perjuangan untuk mengembalikan hak rakyat masih jauh lagi. Api, lebuh raya, hospital, klinik – adalah diantara harta rakyat yang telah dirompak melalui dasar penswastaan.

Orang ramai – anak semua bangsa – tidak ada pilihan melainkan menolak dasar penswastaan. Amat jelas dasar ini adalah dasar yang tidak membawa kebajikan untuk orang ramai. Dasar ini hanya membawa laba, untung, kekayaan dan kebajikan untuk pemilik saham.

Justru marilah kita turun sama berjuang di jalan raya pada 5 Disember ini. Pada hari Ahad yang akan datang ini warga Selangor akan berkumpul di Masjid Negara. Warga Selangor akan bersama Menteri Besar dan pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat  untuk berarak menyampaikan memo kepada Yang Dipertuan Agong. Memo menuntut hak air mereka dipulangkan kembali.

Anak semua bangsa mari kita bersetikawan dan bersolidariti dengan warga Selangor yang berjuang untuk mendapatkan hak air mereka Hari ini air Selangor - esok api leterik dan hospital yang perlu kita sama-sama perjuangkan. - Malaysia Today

Kerajaan Pakatan Selangor laksana pelan tindakan bantu rakyat tidak mampu lunas tunggakan bil air

SHAH ALAM 1 Dis – Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan) Selangor, akan melaksanakan pelan tindakan untuk membantu rakyat Selangor yang tidak berkemampuan untuk melunaskan tunggakan bil air, sebaik sahaja ia diberikan kelulusan oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk mengambil alih pengurusan air negeri ini daripada Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor atau Syabas dan tiga syarikat konsesi lain.

Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim melahirkan rasa kesal atas tindakan terbaru Syabas yang menghukum lebih 800 penghuni Pangsapuri Desa Pandan selepas beberapa penduduk terbabit tidak mampu membayar tunggakan mereka.

Tan Sri Khalid, menjelaskan, rancangan pengambilalihan aset-aset milik konsesi air digerakkan kerana kerajaan negeri menyedari pengusaha air hanya memikirkan keuntungan semata-mata.

Bantuan untuk golongan yang tidak mampu menjelaskan tunggakan bil air mereka akan disalur menerusi tabung yang membiayai skim pemberian air percuma 20 meter padu.

“Apabila pemilikan pengurusan air dalam kerajaan, kerajaan mempunyai dana kebajikan, di mana ia boleh dilakukan (untuk membantu rakyat yang tidak mampu membayar tunggakan bil air),” kata beliau di satu sidang akhbar di Bangunan Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Shah Alam, hari ini.

Tan Sri Khalid melahirkan rasa dukacita dengan tindakan Syabas menghukum kesemua penghuni blok pangsapuri yang terjejas, walhal isu ini boleh diselesaikan secara matang dan bertimbang rasa.

“Syabas mendapati ia akan mengurangkan keuntungan mereka, sebab itu Syabas tidak teragak-agak memotong sebab takut dia tidak mendapat keuntungan,” komen beliau.

Tan Sri Khalid berharap Kerajaan Persekutuan dan pengusaha konsesi air dapat berkerjasama dengan kerajaan negeri bagi memecahkan kebuntuan rundingan pengambilalihan aset air.

“Itulah sebabnya Kerajaan Persekutuan dan kerajaan negeri pada 2006 bersetuju pengurusan air diberikan kepada kerajaan negeri. Ini bukan di Selangor saja, di Negeri Sembilan sudah dilakukan dan di Melaka pun sudah dilakukan. Tapi boleh jadi sebab Selangor di bawah Pakatan, Kerajaan Persekutuan enggan melakukannya,” tegas Khalid. - SelangorKini

Syabas salah guna air rakyat

SHAH ALAM, 1 Dis – Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) diminta menghentikan amalan menyalahgunakan peruntukan 20 meter padu air percuma yang disediakan khusus untuk rakyat Selangor.

Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, meminta monopoli pembekalan air negeri itu supaya tidak bertindak di luar batasan… mengkhianati hak yang sememangnya milik rakyat Selangor.

Beliau berkata, demikian mengulas kedegilan Syabas meneruskan skim Tabung Budi, yang diuar-uarkan untuk membantu golongan sasaran yang dipilih Syabas.

Syabas mengajak orang ramai supaya menyerahkan kepada konsesi itu peruntukan untuk 20 meter padu percuma yang diberikan kerajaan negeri kepada mereka.

Syabas kemudian akan menggunakan wang percuma itu untuk membayar hutang tunggakan yang ditanggung konsesi itu, dan menyambung semula bekalan air yang dipotong Syabas.

Tan Sri Khalid berkata, peruntukan untuk skim 20 meter padu air itu bukan milik Syabas untuk digunakan bagi tujuan selain daripada pembekalan air percuma kepada rakyat Selangor.

“Tugas Syabas adalah membekalkan air bersih pada harga berpatutan kepada rakyat, bukan untuk berkebajikan.

“Jadi tidak perlukan Syabas memusingkan wang yang bukan milik mereka, dan memberi bantuan, seolah-olah mahu menolong rakyat,” katanya. - SelangorKini

Air: MB Selangor ajak rakyat pertahan hak mereka

Rakyat Selangor tanpa mengira kaum dan usia perlu bangkit untuk mempertahankan hak mereka  daripada terus dimanipulasi oleh pihak-pihak tertentu yang mendapat keuntungan melampau hasil dasar penswastaan perkhidmatan air yang tidak menguntungkan rakyat. Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, berkata  rakyat perlu melakukan anjakan paradigma dengan menolak apa saja tindakan atau keputusan yang merugikan mereka. Sehubungan itu, Menteri Besar mengajak rakyat Selangor dan Lembah Klang tanpa mengira ideologi politik yang mahu mempertahankan hak mereka untuk mendapat air lebih murah dan perkhidmatan cekap  supaya bersama-sama menyertai Kerajaan Negeri menghantar memorandum kepada Yang  di-Pertuan Agong pada 5 Disember ini. “Kita perlu berubah dan bijak membuat penilaian jika tindakan yang dibuat Kerajaan pemerintah hanya menguntungkan kronik dan membebankan rakyat biasa. “Rakyat perlu menyokong usaha kerajaan Selangor mengambil alih perkhidmatan air dari Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor  Sdn Bhd (Syabas) supaya kebajikan serta kepentingan rakyat terus terpelihara dan tidak teraniaya,” katanya. Beliau berkata demikian ketika menyampaikan taklimat mengenai usaha kerajaan Selangor mengambil alih perkhidmatan air dari Syabas kepada kira-kira 500 Nazir dan Ahli Jawatankuasa (AJK) Masjid seluruh Selangor di sini, hari ini. Turut menyampaikan taklimat, Ahli Parlimen Kuala Selangor yang juga Ahli Panel Penilai Air, Dr Dzulkefli Ahmad dan Pengarah Penerangan Negeri, Dr Badrulamin Bahrom. Kerajaan Negeri menganjurkan Kempen Kembalikan Air Kepada Rakyat untuk menyedarkan rakyat Selangor dan Lembah Klang terhadap usaha-usaha Kerajaan Negeri mengambil alih industri air dari syarikat konsesi supaya perkhidmatan bekalan air lebih efisien dan tarif air lebih rendah. Kemuncak kepada kempen ini ialah perhimpunan beramai-ramai di Masjid Negara sehingga ke Istana Negara  pada Ahad, 5 Disember  2010 untuk menyerahkan memorandum - HarakahDaily

Air: MB Selangor yakin sokongan rakyat

Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim yakin rakyat negeri ini bersama kerajaan dalam menuntut hak air. Sehingga kini katanya, kempen ‘Kembalikan Hak Air Selangor’ telah mencecah 50,000 tandatangan rakyat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan. Sehubungan itu katanya, perhimpunan pada Ahad, 5 Disember ini akan diteruskan seperti dirancang. Menurut Khalid, rakyat diseru turun beramai-ramai ke Masjid Negara bagi menyerahkan memorandum kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin di Istana Negara. Beliau juga turut menyatakan komitmen untuk hadir mengetuai perarakan tersebut. "Saya akan turun bersama-sama rakyat untuk berhimpun di Masjid Negara. “Jika perlu, rakyat akan bergerak ke Istana Negara untuk serah memorandum untuk minta Yang di-Pertuan Agong beritahu Perdana Menteri (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak)  supaya penswastaan air dihentikan. "Beri peluang kepada rakyat agar diberi harga yang munasabah," katanya. Himpunan itu merupakan kemuncak siri kempen membantah penswastaan air di Selangor, yang dianjur kerajaan negeri. Ianya juga sebagai desakan agar empat syarikat swasta air dibeli semula dan diletak dalam satu badan milik kerajaan negeri untuk dikawal urus. Melalui penghapusan penswastaan air, kerajaan negeri menjangkakan tarif air mampu dikurangkan sehingga 12 peratus setahun dan mengekalkan dasar pemberian 20 meter padu air percuma kepada isi rumah. Jika penswastaan diteruskan, rakyat negeri ini akan menghadapi kenaikan tarif air sehingga 27 peratus. Sebelum ini, kerajaan Selangor juga telah menghantar notis 14 hari kepada Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) agar memberhentikan Program Tabung Budi kerana melanggar syarat perjanjian konsesi air negeri. Jika gagal berbuat demikian, kerajaan negeri akan menimbang untuk mengambil tindakan undang-undang. - HarakahDaily