Wat-er confusion! The Selangor Government is confusing the people over water issues in the state to suit its political agenda, and at the expense of consumers and the economy, a prominent consumer activist charged today.
Consumer Association of Subang and Shah Alam (Cassa) president Datuk Dr Jacob George said, based on feedback he had received, most people in Selangor were confused over who was right and wrong.
Amidst this confusion, he said the state government had also injected, as an after-thought, a new dimension to the water issue -- that water tariffs would increase if the Federal Government went ahead with building the Langat 2 water treatment plant.
Dr George also lamented that a number of executive councillors (Excos) in the Selangor Government were formerly non-governmental organisation (NGO) activists who had been looking at things negatively, no matter how well-intentioned the federal government plans were, to improve conditions in the country.
"I have been involved with various NGOs for 37 years. I could see their game-plan (over water issues), their strategies and that's why they are bringing up irrelevant matters just to block what the federal government is trying to do," he told Bernama in an interview.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Bernama:Another Group Demands Compensation Over Water Subsidy From Selangor
Another group of consumers from here and Petaling Jaya has sued the Selangor government for RM1.15 billion for allegedly failing to provide free water subsidy promised in the last general election.
The suit was filed by Kamarulazman Kamarudin, 37, on behalf of 2,020 consumers at the High Court here today through the firm Messrs Kamarudin & Partners at the High Court registry here today.
It named the Selangor government, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) as defendants.
Lawyer Kamarudin Ahmad said the suit was the last resort made by the plaintiffs to seek justice since the state government had decided to ignore their right to the Free Water Scheme as they were using bulk water meters.
According to the statement of claim, during the election campaign in March 2008, the opposition promised the people of Selangor free water for the first 20 cubic metres each month to domestic users if they won the general election.
The plaintiffs claimed that on Aug, Abdul Khalid was reported as saying that water users using bulk meters would not be entitled to the free water subsidy.
The suit was filed by Kamarulazman Kamarudin, 37, on behalf of 2,020 consumers at the High Court here today through the firm Messrs Kamarudin & Partners at the High Court registry here today.
It named the Selangor government, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) as defendants.
Lawyer Kamarudin Ahmad said the suit was the last resort made by the plaintiffs to seek justice since the state government had decided to ignore their right to the Free Water Scheme as they were using bulk water meters.
According to the statement of claim, during the election campaign in March 2008, the opposition promised the people of Selangor free water for the first 20 cubic metres each month to domestic users if they won the general election.
The plaintiffs claimed that on Aug, Abdul Khalid was reported as saying that water users using bulk meters would not be entitled to the free water subsidy.
Bernama:Selangor Government Writes To Federal Government On Restructuring Of Water Industry
The Selangor government has sent the latest letter to the federal government to start discussions to settle the issue of restructuring the state's water industry which had met a dead end some time ago.
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui was informed of the matter through a letter dated Sept 14.
"A copy of the letter was also sent to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
"If Datuk Peter Chin does not respond in 14 days from the date of the letter, I will regard the ministry as not having any objection to my proceeding with the restructuring," he said after chairing a state executive council meeting, here, today.
He said the state government would announce the latest offer to buy all four water concessionaires in the state, the latest by Sept 29 if there was no response to the letter sent.
He said the acquisitions were necessary to implement the restructuring plan of the water supply industry in Selangor.
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.-- BERNAMA
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui was informed of the matter through a letter dated Sept 14.
"A copy of the letter was also sent to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
"If Datuk Peter Chin does not respond in 14 days from the date of the letter, I will regard the ministry as not having any objection to my proceeding with the restructuring," he said after chairing a state executive council meeting, here, today.
He said the state government would announce the latest offer to buy all four water concessionaires in the state, the latest by Sept 29 if there was no response to the letter sent.
He said the acquisitions were necessary to implement the restructuring plan of the water supply industry in Selangor.
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.-- BERNAMA
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Bernama:Selangor Government's Stubbornness Will Cause Critical Water Crisis, Warns Expert
Selangor will certainly face a critical water crisis if the state government remains stubborn by continuing to block the construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant, a water management expert warned today.
Dr Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri said providing treated water was a most important responsibility of the state government and the Langat 2 plant remained the only alternative means for the state to have adequate supply of treated water because all existing treatment plants had exceeded their production capacity.
"Without this alternative plan, the people and industries in Selangor will run out of treated water as we have reached the maximum production level. We have come to the stage of requiring a new solution and new alternative. And in the immediate term, Langat 2 is the only solution," he said in an interview.
Dr Zaharuddin Sani uses a simple "nasi lemak " analogy to explain the situation. "If we need 500 packets of nasi lemak to be given to 500 people, then it's enough. But if we only have 500 packets and there are 520 people to eat the nasi lemak, then it won't be enough."
He rubbished the Selangor government's free-water policy and called for a review of the policy because, he said, water was a precious asset for any nation and should no longer be deemed as something cheap, let alone given free.
Dr Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri said providing treated water was a most important responsibility of the state government and the Langat 2 plant remained the only alternative means for the state to have adequate supply of treated water because all existing treatment plants had exceeded their production capacity.
"Without this alternative plan, the people and industries in Selangor will run out of treated water as we have reached the maximum production level. We have come to the stage of requiring a new solution and new alternative. And in the immediate term, Langat 2 is the only solution," he said in an interview.
Dr Zaharuddin Sani uses a simple "nasi lemak " analogy to explain the situation. "If we need 500 packets of nasi lemak to be given to 500 people, then it's enough. But if we only have 500 packets and there are 520 people to eat the nasi lemak, then it won't be enough."
He rubbished the Selangor government's free-water policy and called for a review of the policy because, he said, water was a precious asset for any nation and should no longer be deemed as something cheap, let alone given free.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Bernama:Only 27 Sen A Day To Pay For Sewerage Services
Scenes of sewage seeping out of manholes and septic tanks and oozing from broken down oxidation ponds. Foul odour emitted by sewage and other effluents draining into a river.
"This is what will happen if there are no sewerage services. Untreated sewage is not only full of stench, but also contains harmful bacteria that spreads various diseases and causes environmental deterioration," Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) Chief Excecutive Officer Datuk Abdul Kadir Mohd Din, told Bernama recently.
He stated that based on the jump in the collection of bill payments this year, public awareness about the importance of sewerage services seems to be rising, with collections having soared to 83 per cent from 54 per cent in 1997.
However, there are those who are still ignorant.
Sewage treatment provided by IWK is among the cheapest offered in the world, at a mere 27 sen a day.
This roughly works out to about RM8 a month for a connected sewerage system.
This tariff has remained stable for close to two decades.
But what is ironical is the fact that some people still demand that the service should be provided free of charge, despite the fact that the cost of sewerage services is on the rise owing to an escalation in population size as well as maintenance costs.
"Some consumers feel that IWK services are not important for them. They think that services like telecommunication and others are needed more than sewerage services," Abdul Kadir said.
"This is what will happen if there are no sewerage services. Untreated sewage is not only full of stench, but also contains harmful bacteria that spreads various diseases and causes environmental deterioration," Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) Chief Excecutive Officer Datuk Abdul Kadir Mohd Din, told Bernama recently.
He stated that based on the jump in the collection of bill payments this year, public awareness about the importance of sewerage services seems to be rising, with collections having soared to 83 per cent from 54 per cent in 1997.
However, there are those who are still ignorant.
Sewage treatment provided by IWK is among the cheapest offered in the world, at a mere 27 sen a day.
This roughly works out to about RM8 a month for a connected sewerage system.
This tariff has remained stable for close to two decades.
But what is ironical is the fact that some people still demand that the service should be provided free of charge, despite the fact that the cost of sewerage services is on the rise owing to an escalation in population size as well as maintenance costs.
"Some consumers feel that IWK services are not important for them. They think that services like telecommunication and others are needed more than sewerage services," Abdul Kadir said.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Bernama:Water Tariffs Can't Be Raised Arbitrarily - Chin
Water tariffs cannot be raised arbitrarily but will be negotiated between the concessionaire, Selangor government and federal government.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui said the Selangor government claim that water tariffs would rise dramatically with completion of Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant was untrue.
"The completion of Langat 2 project will not necessarily cause the water tariffs to rise," he told reporters after attending his ministry's Aidilfitri open house at Malaysia Agro Exposition (Maeps) here.
Selangor Exco member Xavier Jayakumar claimed the people will have to pay higher water tariffs when Langat 2 project worth RM3,744 billion is implemented.
Chin said the federal government wanted Langat 2 project to be implemented this year for completion by 2015 to supply 1.130 million litres of water daily to eight million users by 2025.-- BERNAMA
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui said the Selangor government claim that water tariffs would rise dramatically with completion of Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant was untrue.
"The completion of Langat 2 project will not necessarily cause the water tariffs to rise," he told reporters after attending his ministry's Aidilfitri open house at Malaysia Agro Exposition (Maeps) here.
Selangor Exco member Xavier Jayakumar claimed the people will have to pay higher water tariffs when Langat 2 project worth RM3,744 billion is implemented.
Chin said the federal government wanted Langat 2 project to be implemented this year for completion by 2015 to supply 1.130 million litres of water daily to eight million users by 2025.-- BERNAMA
Bernama:Chin: Takeover Of Water Concession Companies Will Not Solve Water Woes
The takeover of four water concession companies by Selangor government cannot fully solve the water woes in the Klang Valley in the immediate future, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui.
He said this was because the takeover process would likely take a long time as there must be some willing sellers and buyers.
"The takeover of the four companies is not a very wise stand as only the construction of the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant Langat 2 can solve all the water woes in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya," he told a press conference after attending the ministry's Hari Raya Open House at the Malaysian Agro Exposition Park in Serdang here.
The state government had wanted to take over the four concession companies, namely Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd(Splash) and ABASS Consortium, to implement the water industry restructuring plan.
Yesterday, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the state government would announce its latest offer to buy all four water concession companies in another two weeks.-- BERNAMA
He said this was because the takeover process would likely take a long time as there must be some willing sellers and buyers.
"The takeover of the four companies is not a very wise stand as only the construction of the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant Langat 2 can solve all the water woes in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya," he told a press conference after attending the ministry's Hari Raya Open House at the Malaysian Agro Exposition Park in Serdang here.
The state government had wanted to take over the four concession companies, namely Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd(Splash) and ABASS Consortium, to implement the water industry restructuring plan.
Yesterday, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the state government would announce its latest offer to buy all four water concession companies in another two weeks.-- BERNAMA
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