TheStar:PAS’ claims of leaking dam is unfounded, says MB

The newly-completed RM63mil Ulu Sepri Dam near Rembau which can contain 3.5mil cubic metres of water is structurally safe.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said claims by PAS that the dam was leaking and thus posed a danger to residents in the area was unfounded.

Mohamad said PAS number two Mohamad Sabu or better known as Mat Sabu. did not have an inkling on the construction method of the new dam.

All good: Mohamad (right) and Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin taking a boat ride at the Ulu Sepri Dam recently.

“He has no knowledge that the dam was built using the Roller Compacted Concrete method where concrete slabs are placed on one another to give greater strength to the foundation.


“It is unfortunate that he has been going around telling the villagers that the dam was in danger of collapsing simply because you have small amounts of water flowing downstream,” he said.

He added that under the RCC concept, it was normal to have water seeping out of the dam.

However, Mohamad said Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan would take remedial measures to plug the leaks from time to time.

“We will even drain out the water from the 14sq km dam if necessary. We will never risk the lives of villagers by allowing a poorly-built structure to operate,” he said, adding that the new dam would supply water to Rembau and Port Dickson.

Mohamad also denied Mat Sabu’s claims that the state government was nearing bankruptcy and unable to repay its loans.

He said although the state government spent more than RM1bil for building the Triang and Ulu Sepri dams and related facilities such as water treatment plants, retention ponds and laying of new pipes, this cost would be eventually absorbed by the Water Asset Management Company (PAAB).

“What does Mat Sabu know about accounting procedures? Negri Sembilan is one of the few states which has been repaying its loans promptly.

“In fact, we paid more than RM300mil to the Pensions Trust Fund a few days ago for a loan we took five years ago,” he said, expressing hope that the people would not be taken in by Mat Sabu’s allegations.

He also countered allegations by the Opposition that the state government had privatised the water supply services following the establishment of Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan (Sains).

“We had only corporatised water services and the state government still fully owns Sains. We had to corporatise the business as we do not have the funds to build dams and other related facilities,” he said, adding that despite this, water rates in the state was among the lowest in the country.

However, Mohamad said Sains had already submitted a proposal to PAAB to review the tariffs for the industrial and commercial sectors as the present rates were too low.