Allegations by Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim that the water crisis which hit the Klang Valley is part of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor's (Syabas) political agenda is ridiculous, said Permatang assemblyman Sulaiman Razak.
It was a lie used by the state government to wash their hands off the situation and not take any responsibility, he said.
Sulaiman said Syabas was a company given a concession to supply water and it would not risk accusations, criticism and complaints from the people who are their clients.
"As a business, being able to sell more water means more profit so what good would the alleged gimmick have," he told Bernama.
Sulaiman explained that the real problem was a malfunction at pump stations due to maximum operation, and the state government was informed since 2009 that pump station capability needed to be increased to cater to increasing demand for water, which they (Selangor government) continued to ignore.
He said Selangor residents were most disappointed when Khalid refused to claim responsibility for the crisis, especially when they are suffering from the situation.
"I can say this water crisis is a disaster. As head of the government, the Menteri Besar should regard problems affecting the public as his problem and the state government's problem," said Sulaiman.
He said water supply, a basic necessity needed by industrial development and housing areas in Selangor, was determined by the state government.
"Look at the growing investment in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor. When development is flourishing, need for water will definitely increase. In such situations, the state government should be responsive to what is happening.
"This issue has greatly been debated at the state assembly and Parliament. We know we will face a serious water crisis in Selangor one day and today we have. Water levels in Selangor are currently critical and all quarters, such as the state government, Syabas and Federal government, should take the necessary measures," he said, referring to the water crisis affecting more than 90 areas with some 500,000 people in Ampang, Cheras and Gombak bearing the brunt since early this year.
Sulaiman said the Federal government had taken a long-term approach through water supply projects from Pahang and the construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant worth billions of ringgit, but were opposed by the state government despite not being required to spend on the projects.
He said the state government was also indecisive in its approach, whereby Khalid himself made many inconsistent statements on the water issue at the state assembly and outside.
For example, the state government alleged that the Langat 2 project will only benefit Federal government cronies, but Khalid kept quiet when the Federal government held an open tender for the project which was closed last month.
The Menteri Besar also claimed that water tariffs will hike when Langat 2 operates, but in reality the state government had the authority to approve or reject a rise in the tariff, he said.
Sulaiman also spoke on NRW (non-revenue water) which was often criticised by the state government. NRW is caused by loss of water through leaking pipes or pipes, which have been operating since 60 or 70 years ago.
"I want to tell the people that I have concrete evidence that the Selangor government is restricting Syabas from carrying NRW remedial work, although NRW is part of the concessionaire agreement between Syabas and state government," he said.
He said the state government had issued Syabas an official letter to freeze all work involving capital expenditure, or Capex, starting 2009 until 2012.
The letter stated a freeze was necessary because the state government was restructuring the Selangor water industry but, he added, after more than three years and nearing the general election, the restructuring had yet to be done.
Therefore, he said Capex was still frozen and Sybas cannot carry out work to reduce NRW from 34 per cent to its minimum 15 per cent in accordance to the concessionaire agreement.
Syabas, which should have replaced about 6,000 kilometres of pipes, could only carry out 800 kilometres of pipe replacement until 2009.
"This means that in the current situation water continues to leak underground during supply because of the old pipes.
"To me, the state government is more interested in making this issue a part of their political agenda. I don't even see any restructuring or what profit they get from the water industry," he said.-- BERNAMA
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